Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (), the state-owned telecom service provider in metros, has invited bids to sell its Wi-Max hi-speed wireless broadband services across the lading towns of the country, including Delhi and Mumbai. The firm wishes to adopt franchise route on revenue sharing basis for Wi-Max services, like its 3G services, to get better revenue realization.

The company said in its expression of Interest (EOI): "The bidder shall jointly work with the MTNL for working out strategies for advertising, marketing and promoting the broadband services, which shall carried out under the MTNL brand."

The short-listed bidder will be responsible for broadband and other voice based services, such as Internet, VPN and video conferencing for six years; with the franchise to be renewed after every two years. Recently, the government allotted WiMAX licenses to BSNL and MTNL on priority basis, while private firms are still waiting for such licenses.

MTNL is also providing 3G services in metros. However, due to poor performance, it has failed to attract masses; and has thus invited bids from outside companies to make 3G services efficient.