DoT asks MTNL to take B'berry interception steps soon

Department of Telecom has asked state-run MTNL to ensure that the necessary system for legal interception of Blackberry services is put in place by February 28 or stop the value added services from March 1.

MTNL chairman-cum-managing director of MTNL A K Garg was told by the Department of Telecom in a communication that the PSU telecom major will have to shut down the services if it did not adhere to the norms laid down by the department.

The DoT had in November last year asked all Telecom Service Providers to immediately install a mechanism for legal interception of Blackberry services by December 31, 2012 failing which they would have to shut down the services.

Despite requests by telecom companies for more time, the DoT stuck to its stand forcing all the telecom companies to fall in line and ensure timely deployment of necessary equipment.

"It is understood that MTNL is yet not ready with the proposed deployment of Blackberry interception solution. It is, therefore, requested that the Blackberry interception solution may kindly be deployed on or before February 28

otherwise DoT may be constrained to asked to restrain the services offered by MTNL," a letter to MTNL from DoT said.

MTNL did not comment on the development despite repeated attempts made to seek their response.

The DoT had tightened the norms after intensive talks were held on the issue of intercepting the services provided by Canada-based Research-In-Motion (RIM), manufacturers of the smart phones.

RIM had been asked to provide resolution and web-browsing requirements in respect of Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) in consultation with the TSPs and their lawful interception vendors. RIM has agreed to place a server in Mumbai in this connection.

Blackberry had complied with the requirements of the probe agencies after their services were red-flagged on the security issues as the interception was not in the readable format.

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