More Gulf states consider banning BlackBerry services

Dubai: Some Gulf states are considering following the UAE's decision to suspend BlackBerry services in two months' time.

The UAE announced its decision to suspend the service because of concerns over the threat posed by security features on the device. Regulatory authorities say they are unable to monitor communications on the device.

Kuwait has said that it might consider banning BlackBerry services.

"Kuwait is looking at the option in line with the UAE and Saudi Arabia's decisions in order to ensure that the services are not used by terrorists who could communicate away from any form of control," Kuwaiti daily Alem Al Yam said yesterday.

Following Sunday's announcement by the UAE's telecom regulator, Saudi Arabia also announced its dissatisfaction with BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM).

Against the tide

However, Bahrain and Qatar said they don't plan to block the popular device.

"We have nothing in our law to substantiate why we would pursue action to ban anything," Meegan Webb, ictQatar acting assistant secretary-general, told Zawya Dow Jones. ictQatar is the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology in Qatar.

"If evidence was presented that this was a national security threat then I'd be happy to look at it but I haven't got that [evidence] in my hands today," Webb added.

Meanwhile, India and China have also been having similar talks with the manufacturer.

"If the issue gets bigger, if India also becomes an issue, then RIM will have to review their business case," said Simon Simonian, telecom analyst at Shuaa Capital, an investment bank.

"So far, it's a company with more than 40 million customers globally. We're talking about only a few hundred thousand in the UAE."