(a) whether the Government proposes to discontinue Blackberry services
in the country;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the number of connections provided by various mobile companies
during the last three years and the current year?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SACHIN PILOT)
(a) Blackberry services have not been banned so far.
(b) & (c) Security Agencies can intercept and monitor voice, SMS and individual
customer email. However, Government is engaged with Research in Motion (RIM), the
provider of Blackberry phone services to find out a solution to the interception and
monitoring of messenger chat and enterprise email using Blackberry phone.
(d) The number of connections provided by various mobile companies during the last
three years and current year are as under:-
Years 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (as on 30.09.2010)
Number of 95985312 130681602 192562833 103395675 connections