UTStarcom has signed a new contract with Aksh Optifibre that expands the operator's deployment of the industry-leading RollingStream IPTV solution. UTStarcom's second deal with Aksh demonstrates the company's continued commitment to building and delivering IPTV capabilities throughout India.

Aksh originally selected UTStarcom in early 2007 to deliver the first commercial IPTV service in India through Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) in Delhi. The current contract helps Aksh extend its reach and deliver the same high-quality IPTV services to subscribers of MTNL in Mumbai, India.

Aksh announced the launch of its IPTV and VoIP services in Mumbai on the MTNL network in March 2008, as an expansion to the initial launch of these services on the MTNL Delhi network in July 2007.

One of India's leading optical fibre cable manufacturers and one of the first companies in India to set up its own fibre optic manufacturing units, Aksh is delivering next-generation telecommunications services in the fast-growing India market.

UTStarcom's RollingStream end-to-end IPTV system supports more than 850,000 live IPTV subscribers globally. The system maintains a current total system capacity exceeding 2.5 million subscribers as a result of recent successful deployments in China with China Netcom and China Telecom, in India with Bharti Airtel, MTNL/Aksh and United Telecoms Limited, in Sri Lanka with SLT, in Japan with Softbank, in Latin America with Brasil Telecom, in Taiwan with Markwell and in Europe with Jersey Telecom.

UTStarcom was recently recognized with two award distinctions for the company's IPTV and broadband work and advancement in India. VARIndia named UTStarcom this year's "Most Trusted Company" in India in the areas of broadband and IPTV leadership. UTStarcom also received an "Excellence in Telecom Services and Solutions" award from the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association in India for the company's innovation in IPTV, broadband and NGN and its direct impact on India's telecom market growth.