US firm in $100-m deal with Reliance Infocomm Ltd

Quoting industry insiders in India, the publication said that a large project team from Utstarcom this week ‘‘is sitting inside Reliance offices in Mumbai.’’

Utstarcom has sold equipment to Reliance in the past. Deals with Indian companies will fuel future growth of the company. Last year, China drove more than 80 per cent of Utstarcom’s $981.8 million revenues—an increase of 57 per cent from $626.8 million in 2001, CEO Hong Lu said.

Utstarcom makes wireline broadband internet technology, but leads the wireless personal access system (PAS) market, a technology that enables traditional telephone companies to offer wireless telephone and data services through traditional telephony networks, without having to install new cellular networks. PAS phone services resembles cell phones except for a limited coverage area. Consumers pay about one-third the price of a regular cell phone service for Utstarcom’s cordless PAS service. (PTI)