NTRA banning sales of mobile phone lines through distributors starting in March?

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) will ban sales of new mobile phone lines through distributors as of March and has informed the nation’s mobile network operators, Al Borsa reports. From March onwards, all MNOs will be selling new phone lines through their own branches and retail sales stores. The NTRA had limited sales of phone lines to 50 licensed distributors per MNO in January and February. The decision has spurned talks and plans between MNOs and the largest distributors to set up franchises and other licensing agreements, sources tell the newspaper. A proposed framework would see each distributors operate around 10-12 franchise stores, they added.