<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101680</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZHONE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZHNE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249358</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TIMMINS JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5 PALO ALTO SQ. 9TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94306</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.8585</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1314843</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Below.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.0500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1304843</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Below.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by NIF Ventures Co. LTD and affiliated entities as follows: (i) 363,667 shares held my NIF Ventures Co. LTD (ii) 258,833 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 2000/1; (iii) 221,698 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 2000/2; (iv) 142,483 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 99-A; (v) 142,483 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 99-B; (vi) 74,048 shares held by NIF 21-One (1); (vii) 39,522 shares held by NIF 21-One (2-A); (viii) 39,522 shares held by NIF 21-One (2-B); (ix) 21,725 shares held by NIF-TT Fund; and (x) 10,862 shares held by NIF-ST Fund.  Mr. Timmins is a General Partner and Managing Director for NIF Ventures Co., LTD, and disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his proportional interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by NIF Ventures Co., LTD and affiliated entities as follows: (i) 363,667 shares held my NIF Ventures Co. LTD (ii) 256,051 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 2000/1; (iii) 219,310 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 2000/2; (iv) 140,950 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 99-A; (v) 140,950 shares held by NIF New Technology Fund 99-B; (vi) 73,251 shares held by NIF 21-One (1); (vii) 39,097 shares held by NIF 21-One (2-A); (viii) 39,097 shares held by NIF 21-One (2-B); (ix) 21,725 shares held by NIF-TT Fund; and (x) 10,745 shares held by NIF-ST Fund.  Mr. Timmins is a General Partner and Managing Director for NIF Ventures Co., LTD, and disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his proportional interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mariann Lackey as Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

