ID :
138033
Tue, 08/17/2010 - 14:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/138033
The shortlink copeid
Govt asks telcos to set up BlackBerry intervention facilities
New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) Ahead of the deadline given by
the Indian government to BlackBerry-maker RIM for addressing
security concerns, it has asked telecom operators to set up
legal intervention facilities for such services.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has sent a communication
to nine operators that are currently offering BlackBerry
services, including state-owned BSNL and MTNL, to enable legal
intervention (LI) for messenger and enterprise mail services
on the handset by August 31.
When contacted, a senior DoT official confirmed the move.
A Tata Teleservices spokesperson said, "We have received
a letter from DoT asking us to ensure that Legal Intervention
(LI) capability is put in place for Blackberry services by
August 31, 2010. As a Tata Group company, we have always
abided by the law of the land and will do so here too."
Nine leading telecom firms offer BlackBerry services in
the country, including government-owned BSNL and MTNL and
other leading private players Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, RCom
and the Tatas, and have a cumulative subscriber base of nearly
one million for this service.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIM)
Monday indicated to the government that they will start
offering a solution to the government's concerns about
BlackBerry messenger services from September 1 and will
complete the project within the next four months.
Telecom Minister A Raja said, "no explicit permission has
been given by the government to start BlackBerry services in
the country without setting up a server."
The security agencies are unable to intercept and monitor
BlackBerry services because of complex encrypted communication
and non-availability of BlackBerry servers in India, says an
internal noting of the DoT.
This is despite the fact that the government has
formulated a policy regarding Internet services. As per the
policy, the licencees (operators) have to ensure that bulk
encryption was not deployed by Internet Service Providers.
Furthermore, individuals, groups and organisations are
permitted to use encryption up to a 40-bit key length without
obtaining permission from the licensor.
However, for deploying encryption equipment with a higher
limit, prior permission has to be obtained and the decryption
key has to be deposited with the government, the DoT said.
BlackBerry is a handset used for various kinds of
services like voice, SMS and email, the DoT note said, adding
that law enforcement agencies were not able to intercept
certain types of communications like enterprise email
services, which use a complex encryption method.
The government is in talks with service providers and
BlackBerry to find out a solution for interception and
monitoring of such services. PTI PML
the Indian government to BlackBerry-maker RIM for addressing
security concerns, it has asked telecom operators to set up
legal intervention facilities for such services.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has sent a communication
to nine operators that are currently offering BlackBerry
services, including state-owned BSNL and MTNL, to enable legal
intervention (LI) for messenger and enterprise mail services
on the handset by August 31.
When contacted, a senior DoT official confirmed the move.
A Tata Teleservices spokesperson said, "We have received
a letter from DoT asking us to ensure that Legal Intervention
(LI) capability is put in place for Blackberry services by
August 31, 2010. As a Tata Group company, we have always
abided by the law of the land and will do so here too."
Nine leading telecom firms offer BlackBerry services in
the country, including government-owned BSNL and MTNL and
other leading private players Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, RCom
and the Tatas, and have a cumulative subscriber base of nearly
one million for this service.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIM)
Monday indicated to the government that they will start
offering a solution to the government's concerns about
BlackBerry messenger services from September 1 and will
complete the project within the next four months.
Telecom Minister A Raja said, "no explicit permission has
been given by the government to start BlackBerry services in
the country without setting up a server."
The security agencies are unable to intercept and monitor
BlackBerry services because of complex encrypted communication
and non-availability of BlackBerry servers in India, says an
internal noting of the DoT.
This is despite the fact that the government has
formulated a policy regarding Internet services. As per the
policy, the licencees (operators) have to ensure that bulk
encryption was not deployed by Internet Service Providers.
Furthermore, individuals, groups and organisations are
permitted to use encryption up to a 40-bit key length without
obtaining permission from the licensor.
However, for deploying encryption equipment with a higher
limit, prior permission has to be obtained and the decryption
key has to be deposited with the government, the DoT said.
BlackBerry is a handset used for various kinds of
services like voice, SMS and email, the DoT note said, adding
that law enforcement agencies were not able to intercept
certain types of communications like enterprise email
services, which use a complex encryption method.
The government is in talks with service providers and
BlackBerry to find out a solution for interception and
monitoring of such services. PTI PML
