UTStarcom, Inc. today announced a contract valued at approximately $20 million with China Telecom Corporation (CTC) to expand and optimize deployments of its IP-based PAS (Personal Access System) (iPAS) in China's Shaanxi Province.

This contract represents the fourth major iPAS network expansion in Shaanxi since the initial deployment in 1999.

The capital city of Xi'an in the Shaanxi Province was one of UTStarcom's first major PAS deployments. Introduced in the region in 1999, PAS service has thrived and attracted subscribers who are interested in low-cost, mobile telecommunications and data services. More than 1.5 million people currently subscribe for PAS service in 10 cities throughout the province. UTStarcom currently has 100 percent of the PAS infrastructure market and approximately 60% of the handset market.