The United Arab Emirates was set to introduce a ban on the popular communication device Blackberry on Monday, but has backed away from the ban after reaching an agreement with the phone makers Research In Motion.
The UAE is one of a few countries this year who have threatened a ban on the Blackberry services amid concerns that the encrypted email services were a security risk.
Telecommunication regulators in the UAE confirmed that RIM Blackberry services were now “compliant with the UAE’s telecommunications regulatory framework,” which meant that the services would continue as per usual on Monday. They further said that RIM had shown “positive engagement” in the negotiations to reach a compromise, but it is unclear what, if any, allowances were made by RIM, or what concessions were given to avert the all-out ban.
Analysts suggest there are two possibilities which lead to the deal. Either RIM had agreed to share encrypted data with the UAE, which it had on other occasions said was impossible to do, or the UAE authorities had given up, aware of the economic implications of banning the popular services in the Emirates.
Earlier in the year India and Saudi Arabia had also expresses concern over the security of the RIM encrypted email services, especially after RIM had shown reluctance to share encrypted information. RIM claims there is no way to decode the encrypted services, which is the cornerstone of the success of RIM’s corporate email services.
Both India and Saudi Arabia shied away from an outright ban, but concerns continue to arise.
