Saudi reprieve for BlackBerry after 'positive developments'
By Abdullah Al-Shihri |
August 11, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SAUDI Arabia's telecommunications regulator said yesterday it would allow BlackBerry messaging services to continue in the kingdom, citing "positive developments" with the device's Canadian manufacturer.
The Communications and Information Technology Commission's announcement staves off, at least for now, a potential ban of Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry Messenger service in the country - a step officials had said was possible because of national security concerns.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision was just a temporary reprieve, or whether the threat to ban the service was off the table.
Saudi's announcement of the possible ban - which came shortly after officials in the United Arab Emirates announced a more sweeping crackdown on the devices due to start in October - was read by many analysts as a reflection of the conservative governments' concerns over an inability to access user data.
Both countries have strict Internet controls, in part to keep tabs on a tenacious Islamic militancy problem that has both domestic national security and global terrorism implications.
CITC said mobile phone service providers in the country had been given a 48-hour extension ending Monday night to address security concerns, and that progress had been made.
"In light of the positive developments toward addressing some of the organizational requirements ... the commission decided to allow BlackBerry Messenger service to continue," it said in a brief statement.
The commission said it would continue to work with the country's three mobile phone service providers and, based on developments, it would "take the necessary steps."
The regulator did not say if it had reached any final deal with RIM.
Saudi officials had said earlier the company had reached a preliminary agreement with regulators allowing the government some access to user data.
RIM has declined to comment on the state of negotiations.
The security concerns cited by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, hinge on the way BlackBerry data is sent and managed.
At least some BlackBerry data is encrypted and stored on servers overseas, making it difficult for local governments to monitor.
The Communications and Information Technology Commission's announcement staves off, at least for now, a potential ban of Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry Messenger service in the country - a step officials had said was possible because of national security concerns.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision was just a temporary reprieve, or whether the threat to ban the service was off the table.
Saudi's announcement of the possible ban - which came shortly after officials in the United Arab Emirates announced a more sweeping crackdown on the devices due to start in October - was read by many analysts as a reflection of the conservative governments' concerns over an inability to access user data.
Both countries have strict Internet controls, in part to keep tabs on a tenacious Islamic militancy problem that has both domestic national security and global terrorism implications.
CITC said mobile phone service providers in the country had been given a 48-hour extension ending Monday night to address security concerns, and that progress had been made.
"In light of the positive developments toward addressing some of the organizational requirements ... the commission decided to allow BlackBerry Messenger service to continue," it said in a brief statement.
The commission said it would continue to work with the country's three mobile phone service providers and, based on developments, it would "take the necessary steps."
The regulator did not say if it had reached any final deal with RIM.
Saudi officials had said earlier the company had reached a preliminary agreement with regulators allowing the government some access to user data.
RIM has declined to comment on the state of negotiations.
The security concerns cited by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, hinge on the way BlackBerry data is sent and managed.
At least some BlackBerry data is encrypted and stored on servers overseas, making it difficult for local governments to monitor.
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