UAE to ban Blackberry Services starting October 11th

So, following on from our post that the UAE considered Blackberrys to be a national security risk, they’ve gone further and have said that starting October 11th 2010, they will no longer offer Blackberry Services throughout the UAE. The UAE cited the reasons as being national security concerns as the devices operate beyond the Government’s control and make it difficult for the Government to monitor.

Undertaking such a decision is likely to damage the country’s overall prospects as being a financial hub, as they look to prevent hundreds of thousands of users in the UAE from accessing e-mail, web & social networking starting in October. Part of the reasoning behind the decision is likely to be government fears that the devices’ messaging systems can be exploited by terrorists & other criminals.

However, the decision is unlikely to go down without a storm. Dubai is made up of a large number of expatriates and from personal experience, having a Blackberry Smartphone in the UAE is a brilliant way to keep in touch with friends and family back home. The recent financial crisis has already dented Dubai’s ambitions of being the financial hub of the world and this move by the UAE could see some of those expatriates leaving the country.

A telecom official in nearby Saudi Arabia, has also confirmed that the country would beign to block Blackberry messaging services later this month. Analysts and activists also see the attempt by the UAE (and Saudi Arabia) as an attempt to control information in the conservative country. Both countries already tightly censor websites and other media that is deemed to have content that breaches both nations’ conservative views.

Whilst announcing the ban, the UAE Telecomms Regulation Authority has said that the services will stop working October 11th, and if it applies only to local users to begin with, it is sure to be extended to foreigners as well eventually.

Other countries including India and the Gulf state of Bahrain, have also had concerns regarding the Blackberry messaging services & the use of offshore servers but the UAE are the first country to take the step of blocking them outright.

Blackberry brand owner, Research In Motion, said in a statement last week that it “respects both the regulator requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers“. The conpany declined to disclose details of the talks they have had with 175 operators worldwide and the UAE’s two state-owned telecomms providers, Etisalat & Du, have said the will comply with the directive by the national government and are working on alternative solutions for their Blackberry customers.

I personally know a few people in Dubai with blackberrys and can see that this will affect a lot of non-UAE nationals in the Gulf Region, especially if the Islamic Gulf states of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia & Oman follow suit.

Via: Crackberry

Source: Yahoo

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Category: Opinion