LM Ericsson AB signed contracts with Chinese mobile operators China Mobile and China Unicom worth a total of $1.44 billion, the wireless equipment maker said Monday.

Ericsson said the two contracts will expand the companies’ Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM, networks.

The agreement with China Mobile, worth some $1.3 billion, means that Ericsson will be one of the main suppliers of core and radio network equipment and related technical support and services. It also said it will provide power-saving features that reduce energy consumption in mobile networks.

Under the $140 million deal with China Unicom, Ericsson will also supply multimedia solutions for wireless access provider, or WAP, services.

Ericsson said deliveries to both operators have already started and the projects are expected to be completed in 2008.