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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 77,824,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 107,773,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 179,584,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 301,626,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Restricted Cash:
Short-term restricted cash	13,731,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	9,822,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Long-term restricted cash	3,400,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	4,900,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Subsidiaries [Member] | U.S. [Member]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents (as a percent)	29.00%utsi_CashAndCashEquivalentsPercentage / utsi_AllCountriesAxis = country_US / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents	22,500,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / utsi_AllCountriesAxis = country_US / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Subsidiaries [Member] | China [Member]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents (as a percent)	19.00%utsi_CashAndCashEquivalentsPercentage / utsi_AllCountriesAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 14,500,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / utsi_AllCountriesAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember	$ 11,500,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / utsi_AllCountriesAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember

X

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3044-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the percentage of cash and cash equivalents.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	utsi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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