Operators upgrade network partially for BlackBerry services

Directed by the goverment, telecom companies are understood to have partially upgraded their networks for lawful interception of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) services only.

The solution for encrypting enterprise mails, however, remains elusive. This has been a major cause of concern which has prompted the government to ask BlackBerry service proivder RIM to enable monitoring or face termination of service.

Some of the operators have submitted compliance report for BBM to the Department of Telecom (DoT) which had asked the service providers to upgrade their technical capability for lawful interception facility of BlackBerry services, if not upgraded.

"A compliance report that the network has been technically upgraded to intercept all BlackBerry services by legal enforcement agencies (LEAs) for lawful interception, must be provided to this office by September 22, 2010," DoT had said in its communication to the operators.

According to sources, one of the leading operators offering BlackBerry services, has said that the matter was taken up with the Canadian firm Research in Motion (RIM) and it has suitably upgraded technical capability for lawful interception of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) services alone.

Another operator, who did not wish to be named, said they are working with the RIM and intelligence agencies to address the issues, indicating there was some progress in BBM services but no headway made in the enterprise mail.

When contacted an RIM spokesperson said from Mumbai, "We are working with the operators and the Government of India to address the issues."

RIM, which is in discussions with the government to provide a mutually acceptable solution for interception of encrypted data on the device, was given a 60-day reprieve till October to come out with a solution or face a ban.

The DoT's order came within days of the company asserting that it "cannot compromise the security architecture of its enterprise solution".

RIM is continuing discussions with governments in India, UAE and other countries, as well as with service providers, and "believe we have made good progress in those discussions", RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie had said last week.

"I am optimistic that a positive and constructive outcome can be achieved," he had said in a conference call with analysts last week. Balsillie, however, stressed that while it is respectful of government needs and fully cooperating to comply with lawful requirements on an industry standard basis, we cannot compromise the security architecture of the BlackBerry enterprise solution.