New Delhi, April 24 :     In a major setback to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited's (MTNL) ambition to expand its services abroad, WorldTel Network is likely to walk out of a consortium that was supposed to bid for basic and cellular licences in Bangladesh. Sources say the pullout from the consortium - comprising MTNL and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) - is likely to be finalised at WorldTel's meeting in London soon. 'The project may get a new foreign partner. WorldTel had asked for some changes in the consortium due to the delay in the project. They were not acceptable to us. If the company does quit, we will get a new partner. In any case, the project would be pursued and we will participate in it,' MTNL sources said. The Bangladesh project was one in a series of joint endeavours by MTNL and TCIL in partnership with WorldTel - a telecom company floated by Sam Pitroda. The consortium also had plans to join the bidding race for offering fixed-line telephony, cellular and other value-added services in South Africa and Vietnam. MTNL and TCIL, as a joint venture company with a foreign partner, had also decided to participate in the fourth round of bidding for operating basic telecom services. MTNL is eyeing the circles which did not attract bidders in the last three rounds. In all, eight telecom circles - West Bengal, Assam, North-East, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh (East), Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands - will be offered to private operators. The planned joint venture had drawn up plans to bid for basic telephone services in North-East and Kerala. Sources said they will do so even if there is a change of foreign partner. 'Kerala and North East are currently being seen by the venture as the best circles. It could also bid for others such as West Bengal or Uttar Pradesh,' sources in DoT said. MTNL and TCIL, the two public-sector companies in the venture, are considering various options to raise equity for the venture. 'Both companies can dip into their internal resources. They have enough to manage basic services in two circles. We may opt for other methods to raise resources if we bag a major contract outside the country,' sources said.