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UAE says BlackBerry ban will affect visitors too

UAE says BlackBerry ban will affect visitors too

By Associated Press | Updated: 6 June 2012 12:21 IST

Highlights

Travelers to Dubai and the important oil industry centre of Abu Dhabi will, like local residents, soon have to do without BlackBerry services. Dubai's Telecommunication Regulatory Authority has announced that all BlackBerry e-mail and web browsing will so

Travellers to Dubai and the important oil industry centre of Abu Dhabi will, like local residents, soon have to do without BlackBerry services.

Dubai's Telecommunication Regulatory Authority has announced that all BlackBerry e-mail and web browsing will soon be banned from the country's airwaves.

The ban was expanded on Monday to include foreign visitors, including those in transit at its busy international airport.

Brian Modoff, Senior Telecommunications Technology Analyst, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. says, " It's about having access to and being able to intercept information lawfully."

The UAE contends some BlackBerry features operate outside the country's laws.

At the heart of their concerns is the way the devices handle data, which is encrypted and routed through RIM's overseas servers, known as nocs.

Modoff adds, " These nocs are generally centralised, so you don't have one in every country. So in order for the Government to gain access, they probably will want a physical noc in their country so any information flowing in and out of their country, they can have access to if they need it for security reasons."

Research in Motion is defending its security system, saying it's widely accepted across the globe.

It's unclear what steps RIM will take to remedy the situation. The company has until October before the ban takes effect.

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