The United Arab Emirates is planning to suspend the use of BlackBerry communication services from October, citing national security concerns.
The UAE regulator decided BlackBerry services including email and instant messaging use encrypted networks that are difficult for the Government to monitor. As a result, it said “certain BlackBerry services allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns for the UAE”.
The suspension will begin on 11 October. Discussions have been held between the UAE and Research In Motion, which manufactures BlackBerry handsets, but no agreement was made.
The ban comes at a bad time for RIM. The company is reportedly preparing to launch a new touchscreen handset to rival the iPhone, and a tablet device is expected come November.
The UAE has about half a million BlackBerry users, most of whom operate in the business and tourism district. The decision is set to frustrate the many thousands of executives and businesses operating in the region.
Saudi Arabia is expected to join the ban.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
