[***] CERTAIN INFORMATION IN THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT HAS BEEN REQUESTED WITH
RESPECT TO THE OMITTED PORTIONS.

Exhibit 10.61

[Translation]

EQUITY TRANSFERRING AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made by and between the following parties:

|Seller:    |  | Zhe Jiang Nantian telecommunication development group share company
|---------- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------
|Purchaser: |  | UTStarcom, Inc.,                                                   

Whereas:



In
accordance with the Law of People's Republic of China on sino-foreign joint venture enterprise and some regulations on equities change of investment of foreign
investment enterprise, adhering to the principle of equality and through friendly consultations, with honest, confident and mutual benefit, both party agree to transfer the shares under the term and
condition as follows:

1.
The status of the parties:

|Seller:               |  | Zhe Jiang Nantian telecommunication development group share company                          
|--------------------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|With resident at:     |  | Hangzhou WuLin Square East Science & Cooperate Building Rm 17-18                             
|Legal representative: |  | Liu Aifu                                                                                     
|Title:                |  | Chairman of the board of directors                                                           
|Nationality:          |  | P.R.C. China                                                                                 
|Purchaser:            |  | UTStarcom, Inc., with resident at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 100 Alameda, CA 94502 U.S.A.
|Legal representative: |  | Ying Wu                                                                                      
|Title:                |  | President                                                                                    
|Nationality:          |  | U.S.A.                                                                                       

2.
TRANSFER OF EQUITIES



---

3.
PRICE AND PAYMENT TERM



4.
After the closing of transferring, the company shall change from a joint venture company to a wholly foreign owned company of Purchaser. Purchaser shall take the liabilities of the shareholder in
accordance with the revised article of association, the board of directors shall be appointed by Purchaser.

5.
WARRANTY



6.
TERMINATION



7.
DISPUTATION SETTLEMENT

Any
disputes arising from the execution or in connection with the contract shall be settled through friendly consultations between both parties. In case no settlement can be reached
through consultations, the disputes shall be submitted to Hangzhou Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its rules of procedure. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both
parties. During the arbitration, the contract shall be executed continuously by both parties except for matters in disputes.

8.
APPLICABLE LAW

This
agreement shall be governed by the related laws of the People's Republic of China.

9.  The
present Agreement becomes executive on the date signed or stamped by the legal person or representative of both party, and this agreement shall come into force
beginning from the date of approval of the original authority.

The
present Agreement is made in four originals. Each party keep one original and others shall be sent to the relevant authorities for filing. All originals shall be equally
authentic.

3

---

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date following written.

| |  | Zhe Jiang Nantian telecommunication development group share company
| |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  | Representative: Bao Rongqing                                       
| |  |                                                                    
| |  | Date: February 5, 2001                                             
| |  | UTSTARCOM, INC.                                                    
| |  | Representative: Ying Wu                                            
| |  |                                                                    
| |  | Date: February 5, 2001                                             

---

Translation Verification

The foregoing represents a fair and accurate English translation of the original Chinese document.

Dated:
May 11, 2001

| |  | By:    |  | /s/SHAO-NING J. CHOU                                                  
| |  | ------ |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  | Name:  |  | Shao-Ning J. Chou                                                     
| |  | Title: |  | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, China Operations

---

QuickLinks