UAE 'moves to suspend some Blackberry services'

The United Arab Emirates is to suspend some Blackberry mobile services from October, the state news agency reports.

The move comes amid UAE concerns that data from the devices is immediately exported offshore and managed by a foreign organisation.

The UAE's telecoms regulator, TRA, said last week the devices could therefore pose a threat to national security.

It follows an alleged attempt last year by the state-run telecoms company to install spyware on Blackberry handsets.

Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has not yet commented on the latest UAE reports, which come amid a row dating back to 2007 about allowing TRA access to the code for RIM's encrypted networks so it can monitor email and other data.

There are an estimated 500,000 Blackberry users in the UAE.

'Intensified surveillance'?

Some Blackberry services would be suspended from 11 October "until a solution compatible with local laws is reached", the state news agency quoted the TRA as saying.

"It's a final decision but we are continuing discussions with them," TRA Director General Mohammed al-Ghanem was quoted as telling Reuters news agency.

"Censorship has got nothing to do with this. What we are talking about is suspension due to the lack of compliance with UAE telecommunications regulations."

But the media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders told the BBC last week that while the UAE was playing a "technological leadership role in the Arab world", this was backed by "repressive laws" and a "general trend of intensified surveillance".

BBC Middle East business reporter Ben Thompson said the threat by the UAE was likely an attempt to wring concessions out of RIM, a Canadian company.

"Many here see this as little more than a power play from the UAE authorities - an attempt to force RIM to handover the security codes or face losing a lucrative market," he said.

India has also raised security concerns over Blackberry data services, saying they could be exploited by militants.

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