Originally Posted by Dickimuss:
“There is a new build of IOS5.01 which ends in 406. I understand that this is intended to fix/improve this problem. the latest version can be installed by using the restore function on itunes.Check the version on your phone to see if it ends in 405. If is does try the upgrade.
Hopefully you can use this function with an inoperable sim.”
That build just fixes a problem with some phones failing to recognise a sim card is present.
The OP's problem is that they cannot activate a phone due to the phone requiring a sim card without a PIN lock on to activate