SOUTH African-owned MTN Nigeria is one of five consortiums bidding for three operating licences in one of the world’s few remaining virgin mobile phone markets in an auction expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the Nigerian government. The auction also includes Communications Investment Ltd (CIL), backed by German giants Deutsche Telekom; Econet Wireless Nigeria Ltd, based in Zimbabwe; MSI-Celtel Nigeria Ltd; and United Networks Mobile Ltd. Each bidder has already paid a deposit of $20m and bidding will start at a reserve price of $100m. – AFP