New diktat for BlackBerry service providers

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to set a deadline for BlackBerry service providers to either provide them a solution to intercept calls and data or stop offering such services.

DoT will call operators offering such services within a few days to discuss the issue and make it clear that they may not be left with any option but direct stopping of the services. “DoT has decided to talk to the service providers only and not to Research in Motion (RIM), the company which offers BlackBerry services. We will ask them to provide us with a solution for intercepting calls and data and they have to find a solution with RIM. If they cannot, we will direct them to stop the services,” a senior ministry official told Business Standard.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Reliance Communications and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) are among the operators who offer BlackBerry services. It is estimated that there are about 500,000-600,000 BlackBerry users in the country. The development came after the telecom department raised concerns over BlackBerry, Skype and Google services. Two years ago, similar concerns were raised against BlackBerry services, but then DoT had said that all issues had been resolved.

The security agencies have been unable to intercept data going through BlackBerry’s networks as it uses code with an encryption of 256 bits. Giving the code or an intercept solution will allow security agencies to access the data in a readable format.

DoT also plans to make it mandatory for foreign service providers to share all information related to their technology. This will ensure that foreign companies will give complete access to their networks or set up a local server in India to allow security agencies to monitor content.

To take this proposal forward, the department of information and technology (DIT) is considering an amendment to the IT Act, according to an internal note prepared by the telecom department.