Saudi Arabia will not ban Blackberry services
The Saudi Arabian Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced on Tuesday that it will not institute a BlackBerry Messenger ban in the KSA in lieu of “positive developments” with the device’s producer Research in Motion (RIM).
The decision came soon after heated speculation initially spurred by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed plans to ban BlackBerry service in October.
In response to the neighbouring Arab nation’s announcement, the CITC had previously issued an ultimatum to local mobile operators in the KSA to ban Blackberry services or face a fine of $1.3 million (SR 4.9 million) on Friday.
After negotiations with RIM and the respective service providers, which include the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia, the CITC decided that progress had been made in reconciling the regulatory criteria and licensing conditions of the Kingdom with that of the services provided by the device.
Pressure is now mounting for RIM to put in a place a system that will allow the CITC to monitor user data and to meet local laws, said state-owned Saudi Press Agency.
Service providers have taken advantage of the CITC’s change of tune by releasing promotions and specials to entice markets to purchase a BlackBerry.
Zain and Mobily will both offer enhanced BlackBerry services to new and existing subscribers for SR99 a month, while STC is also offering a similar suite of services for around the same amount.
The BlackBerry handset is used as a mobile device, Internet browser, and organizer.
►Read "Keeping in Touch in Saudi Arabia"
►Read the Expat Arrivals Guide to Saudi Arabia
The decision came soon after heated speculation initially spurred by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed plans to ban BlackBerry service in October.
In response to the neighbouring Arab nation’s announcement, the CITC had previously issued an ultimatum to local mobile operators in the KSA to ban Blackberry services or face a fine of $1.3 million (SR 4.9 million) on Friday.
After negotiations with RIM and the respective service providers, which include the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia, the CITC decided that progress had been made in reconciling the regulatory criteria and licensing conditions of the Kingdom with that of the services provided by the device.
Pressure is now mounting for RIM to put in a place a system that will allow the CITC to monitor user data and to meet local laws, said state-owned Saudi Press Agency.
Service providers have taken advantage of the CITC’s change of tune by releasing promotions and specials to entice markets to purchase a BlackBerry.
Zain and Mobily will both offer enhanced BlackBerry services to new and existing subscribers for SR99 a month, while STC is also offering a similar suite of services for around the same amount.
The BlackBerry handset is used as a mobile device, Internet browser, and organizer.
►Read "Keeping in Touch in Saudi Arabia"
►Read the Expat Arrivals Guide to Saudi Arabia
