-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JKz8Ab6AzHQ4wXK5wqk52J3cFh9JSpIQ/7j9YGkXQCE1upOqW81VueNqLAh5o3W8
 fmruXS6nBtbymVLF8Nv6Ig==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000709.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000709.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108082206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000709
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UTSTARCOM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030471
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				521782500
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			ALAMEDA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5108648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			ALAMEDA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94502

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WU YING
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001134457

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29661
		FILM NUMBER:		04514391

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11TH FLOOR CNT MANHATTAN BUILDING NO 6
		STREET 2:		CHAO YANG MEN BEI DA JIE
		CITY:			BEIJING
		STATE:			F4
		ZIP:			100027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		0118610 6554 2030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11TH FLOOR CNT MANHATTAN BUILDING NO 6
		STREET 2:		CHAO YANG MEN BEI DA JIE
		CITY:			BEIJING
		STATE:			F4
		ZIP:			100027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-05</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001030471</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UTSTARCOM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001134457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WU YING</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11TH FLOOR CNT MANHATTAN BUILDING NO 6</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CHAO YANG MEN BEI DA JIE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEIJING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>F4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>100027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CHINA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Executive VP &amp; Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-26</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1273087</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1272487</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1271887</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1271287</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F5"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1270687</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F6"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1270087</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F7"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1269487</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F8"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>85000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>39.8579</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1080000</value>
<footnoteId id="F9"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by Stonybrook Investors L.P.</value>
<footnoteId id="F10"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Transfer of shares to The Rainbow Private Foundation Inc. ("Rainbow") a newly formed private charitable foundation of which the reporting person and his spouse are the sole officers.  The foundation has no shareholders.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Rainbow.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Transfer of shares to May Wang Chen.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by May Chen.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Transfer of shares to Michael Chen.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Michael Chen.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Transfer of shares to Doris Zhang.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Doris Zhang.</footnote>
<footnote id="F5">Transfer of shares to Melody Zhang.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Melody Zhang.</footnote>
<footnote id="F6">Transfer of shares to Yadan Wang Chen.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Yadan Chen.</footnote>
<footnote id="F7">Transfer of shares to Hua Shi.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the issuer's common stock held by Hua Shi.</footnote>
<footnote id="F8">This trade was made pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that was adopted on May 31, 2003.</footnote>
<footnote id="F9">The reporting person also claims indirectly the following securities: i) 4,868 shares registered in the name of Wu Living Trust; ii) 4,873 shares registered in the name of Ashley Wu Trust-1998; iii) 4,873 shares registered in the name of Richard Wu Trust-1998; and iv) 1,505,500 shares registered in the name of Wu Partners.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
<footnote id="F10">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Stonybrook Investors L.P. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>By Su Ping Lu, as Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of Ying Wu</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
