BlackBerry services: DoT supports operators

"We have never had any issues with RIM. These issues have been raised by the local security authorities. We are the facilitators between the parties (RIM and security authorities)," he added.

RIM has been facing the heat from the security agencies for not allowing them to intercept data. The company has been negotiating with the government for over two months to come to a solution.

In a recent communication to its customers, RIM put forward that it would be "unable to accommodate any request for a copy of a customer's encryption" through which customer data could be intercepted by security agencies. RIM, which till now had been tight-lipped on the issue, further stated that "governments have a wide range of resources and methodologies to satisfy national security and law enforcement needs, without compromising commercial security requirements".

The issue gained momentum with the involvement of the Canadian government in the talks between the Indian government and RIM. There were diplomatic exchanges of letters between the Indian and Canadian governments, with assurances of complete co-operation and an early solution to the problem. " The Canadian intervention was unfortunate. It does not project a good image of India," the official said.

He clarified that BlackBerry services would continue as before and would not suffer due to the discussions between RIM executives and government agencies. "Just as they operate in other countries, they will operate in India as well," he added.

The BlackBerry case shot into the limelight in December after the government rejected an application from Tata Teleservices to operate the service. All companies offering the service were also directed to discontinue it from December 31, 2007.However, responding to requests, operators were given a three-month extension that ended in March.

Currently, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone-Essar, BPL Mobile and Reliance Communications offer this premium service.

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