The race for Hutch-Essar, the country's fourth largest mobile service provider, quickened on Wednesday with Hong-Kong based Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd formally informing the four companies in the fray to submit their bids by Friday.

• The race for Hutch-Essar

The groups that have expressed an interest in picking up the 67 per cent stake owned by HTIL and its associates include Reliance Communications [ Get Quote ], British telecom major Vodafone, the Ruias of Essar (who also hold a 33 per cent equity stake in the joint venture) and the Hindujas.