Orange's exclusivity agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in France is in jeopardy. French regulators have issued an order to France Telecom (Orange's parent company) temporarily stopping the carrier from having sole rights to the iPhone.

According to the country's competition authority, the deal "by nature introduces a new factor of rigidity in a sector that already lacks competition." Orange and Apple are a little over a year into what's supposed to be a five-year agreement.

The plan is for the country's competition authority to delve more deeply into the matter while the ruling is in effect. Meanwhile, other French operators can sell the iPhone.