The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) plans to auction off the five remaining regional infrastructure company (InfraCo) licences – which allow for the deployment of metropolitan fibre-optic infrastructure and associated transmission equipment on an open access, non-discriminatory and price-regulated basis – next month. The Guardian cites a report by the News Agency of Nigeria as saying that around 60 companies have applied to compete in the licensing procedure, which NCC Executive Vice Chairman Umar Danbatta expects to be completed in July. MainOne Cable and IHS secured the first two concessions – for Lagos State and the North Central Zone, respectively – back in January 2015 and under the second phase of licensing, permits will be awarded for the five remaining zones: North East, North West, South East, South West and South South.