UTStarcom (UTSI) has signed new contracts valued at approximately US$42 million with China Telecom to expand IP-based Personal Access System (iPAS) networks in regions throughout China.

The network expansions will take place in the Jiangsu, Guangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang and Yunan provinces, as well as the Chongqing municipality.

"More than 84 million people currently subscribe for PAS service in China and subscriber growth has continued to be strong, representing better than 40 percent annual growth from 2004," said Simon Le, senior vice president of sales at UTStarcom China.