Broadband provider Tiscali has set a deadline of May 5 for potential buyers to make non-binding bids for its assets.

Vodafone this week joined the list of those rumoured to be interested in the Caligari-based firm, lining up alongside Carphone Warehouse, Sky, BT, Orange and Italian firms Telecom Italia and Fastweb.

While most UK buyers would only be interested in Tiscali's subscribers in Britain, Vodafone is also considering taking on the Italian division, according to The Financial Times. Tiscali is said to prefer remaining intact.

Vodafone recently acquired a broadband base in Italy but has none in the UK.

Analysts recently valued Tiscali at £425m-£510m though it has a market capitalisation of about £969m.

The firm signalled it was up for sale at the beginning of the month.