DoT asks Tata Tele to delay Blackberry services; directs others to set up monitoring facility

23 April 2008

Mumbai: The government has asked Tata Teleservices not to offer Blackberry services unless the required monitoring system being insisted for by security agencies is put in place.

The Department of Telecom has also directed all the providers of RIM Blackberry services to set up monitoring servers for e-mail.

Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance have been offering these services to their customers in the domestic market.

Tata Tele had just announced their entry into this segment and they have now been told by the government to delay the launch until the proper monitoring technologies are in place.

''Keeping in view of the security implication involved, the licensee (company) is directed not to connect or provide or run the Blackberry e-mail and mobile messenger services unless the required monitoring system to the satisfaction of the security agencies are in place and the master key and algorithm are deposited with the licensor,'' DoT said in a letter to Tata Teleservices.

Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited had sought permission for launching Blackberry services, saying other leading operators have been offering services without meeting the above mentioned security clauses.