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Brasil Telecom Launches Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) Service With UTStarcom's mSwitch System

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 September 2008, 09:00 CDT

ALAMEDA, Calif., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UTStarcom, Inc. today announced that its mSwitch(TM) solution is powering Brasil Telecom's network, which is one of the first fixed mobile convergence (FMC) networks in the world. Brasil Telecom is the first mobile operator to implement UTStarcom's mSwitch solution as the key technology enabler of an FMC offering.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051013/SFTH063LOGO)

"As one of the largest broadband providers in Brazil, we see FMC as a new opportunity to leverage our extensive network resources in a way that will only benefit our customers' long term communications experiences," said Dalton Hayakawa, director of marketing at Brasil Telecom. "Utilizing UTStarcom's mSwitch, Brasil Telecom can now offer its customers seamless call connectivity between cellular and WiFi networks in an expanded coverage area. This will allow us to retain more customers on our network as they transition between fixed line and wireless devices and give us the opportunity to demonstrate the value, strength and quality of our combined voice services."

Brasil Telecom, one of Brazil's leading wireless and fixed-line communications providers and incumbent telecom operators, will utilize UTStarcom's mSwitch solution to enable fixed-line connectivity with GSM platforms for call continuity between the two networks using a single wireless device. The FMC solution enables Brasil Telecom to extend its current cellular coverage area indoors using the new Voice Continuity Call (VCC) handover between cellular and WiFi networks.

"We've all become somewhat accustomed to the inconvenience of the occasional dropped wireless call or the necessary termination of a fixed-line call when leaving the range of the base station," said Diego Martinez, Americas regional vice president and general manager for UTStarcom. "This FMC solution deployment is an unprecedented step in the implementation of next-generation telephony services and proves the viability of fixed-mobile services as we take our first step toward a true IP Multimedia Subsystem -- or IMS -- network architecture."

UTStarcom has collaborated extensively with Brasil Telecom on the research and development of IMS products and services and the implementation of mSwitch protocols as a mobile softswitch for integration with IMS. Brasil Telecom also launched their Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services in September last year. The Videon is a unique offering in Brasil and relies on UTStarcom's industry-leading RollingStream(R) Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) solution.

About Brasil Telecom

Brasil Telecom is the first complete Brazilian telecommunications provider to meet, in an integrated way, all market demands with converged solutions in fixed and mobile telephony services, voice and data transmission, national and international long-distance services, data center services, as well as internet access (broadband and dial-up) and managed services product portfolio for residential, enterprise, commercial and government customers. Brasil Telecom has more than 8 million fixed lines in service and a broadband access base in Latin America (over 1.6 million). In little more than three years, numbers of mobile operation reached 4.5 million accesses. This performance surprised the global telecommunications market and it gave Brasil Telecom the first market share position among the "fourth entrants" telecommunications operators, in their markets. For further information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.brasiltelecom.com.br/.

About UTStarcom, Inc.

UTStarcom is a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and international service and support. The company sells its broadband, IPTV, NGN and handset solutions to operators in both emerging and established telecommunications markets around the world. UTStarcom enables its customers to rapidly deploy revenue-generating access services using their existing infrastructure, while providing a migration path to cost-efficient, end-to-end IP networks. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Alameda, California, the company has research and development operations in the United States, Canada, China, Korea and India. For more information about UTStarcom, visit the company's Web site at http://www.utstar.com/.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding the deployment of UTStarcom products, including statements regarding the anticipated growth and operation of the fixed mobile convergence network in Brazil. These statements are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements include: the rapidly changing nature of telecommunications equipment; economic issues in Brazil; possible delays in system deployment; risks associated with customer acceptance; termination of new contracts, partnerships or alliances; and changes in government regulation and licensing requirements. Please also refer to UTStarcom's periodic reports that are filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange commission, including our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. UTStarcom assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.

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UTStarcom, Inc.

CONTACT: Darleen DeRosa, Senior Director, Corporate Public Relations ofUTStarcom, Inc., +1-510-769-2830, darleen.derosa@utstar.com; or Sara Zavala,Senior Account Executive of Edelman, +1-702-644-2465, sara.zavala@edelman.com,for UTStarcom, Inc.

Web site: http://www.utstar.com/http://www.brasiltelecom.com.br/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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