Govt vs Tatas: Blackberry tug of war continues

Reacting to news about government's denial of Blackberry services, Tatas have come up with a clarification. Following a communication from the government on April 4, Tatas had once again approached the Department of Telecom on April 7 and are still awaiting a response.

"We would like to further reiterate that Tata Teleservices will abide by the government's resolve on this issue -- as with any other," a company spokesperson told PTI.

Stating that reports that government has denied go-ahead to Tata Teleservices to start Blackberry services on security concerns were based on a communication of April 4, he said the company had again written to the government on April 7.

"We communicated our stand on the matter to them immediately. We have received no communication from DoT after this (April 7) letter of ours and await a reply from them on this matter," the spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement.

Referring to media reports, he said that Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communications did not even approach the government prior to launching their Blackberry services.

The DoT had, in its communication of April 3, informed the Tatas that service providers are directed not to connect or provide or run Blackberry e-mail and mobile messenger services unless the required monitoring system being insisted for by security agencies were put 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 the April 4th letter to the Tatas.

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.

"...Non compliance of instructions by any other operator in breach of terms and conditions of the licence cannot be a valid ground for according permission to offer Blackberry services," DoT said.

DoT and the Ministry of Home Affairs have been battling with the Blackberry licensor Research-in-Motion as also mobile service providers like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communications to put in place a system to intercept data sent using Blackberry technology.

In fact, DoT had said that it was the responsibility of domestic mobile service providers like Bharti, Vodafone and others to ensure that security system was in place before offering Blackberry e-mail and mobile messenger services.

It is noted that the said instructions (on security) have not been fulfilled by either Tata Teleservices or Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) limited so far and therefore, it is not possible to accede to the request for launching Blackberry services, DoT said.

DoT's technical team has held a series of meetings with RIM officials in order to find a solution so that mobile service providers could continue offering premium Blackberry services to its about four lakh subscribers in the country.

Sources indicated that RIM may place its server in India so that the e-mail routed through Blackberry could be intercepted, if required, by the security agencies. At present, the servers used for routing content sent through Blackberry is located abroad.