Collaborating with the US-based franchisee SOMA Networks, Indian state-owned telecom operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) expects to launch WiMAX services in the two western Indian telecom circles of Gujarat and Maharashtra, as well as Andhra Pradesh in southern India, the Economic Times of India reported on September 3. BSNL plans to start commercial WiMAX services in Maharashtra and Gujarat by year-end 2008, according to a Dow Jones report.

Currently BSNL is also looking for potential franchisees which will be granted rights to launch WiMAX services in 16 other Indian telecom circles, in a bid to speed up the pan-India rollout of WiMAX. It is also reported that the company plans to invite a new bid for WiMAX equipment to cover the urban areas in the circles of Punjab and Kerala. It is estimated that the bid will be valued between US$200 million and US$500 million.