M&A, IP, Patents Avatel Telecom, a rural provider in Spain, has reportedly attracted bids from both STC and Telefonica, valuing it at around €1 billion. Zegona Communications, which is currently acquiring Vodafone Spain, has also been linked to an Avatel bid. STC has reportedly made it to the second round of bidding for Altice Portugal, with rival bidders Warburg Pincus and Iliad asked to revise their bids. All bids are thought to be less than the €10 billion target, however, but Altice has been hit with a French investigation into the fraud allegations that kicked off this latest turmoil. STC is also reportedly interested in buying Spanish rural connectivity provider Avatel Telecom, said to be worth €1 billion. Telefónica and Zegona…