Research In Motion (RIM) is reportedly close to resolving a several months-long network security dispute with India's Union Home Ministry. The issue first became public in early March, when the ministry threatened to ban BlackBerry service entirely, unless it was given unconditional access to any and all of the information passing across RIM's network at any given time, for any given person. RIM's standard security procedures, however, make this impossible, as all device data is encrypted prior to transmission.

The ministry claimed it needs access to customer data in order to protect the country from terrorists operating in Kashmir, who may be using BlackBerrys to communicate with each other. RIM, however, was understandably reluctant to give the government unrestricted access to its own network, and the two sides have been in talks ever since. RIM and the ministry are now reportedly close to an agreement, but details on what that agreement might entail differ greatly.

A recent article from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) implies that RIM, while aware of and responsive to Indian security concerns, is unwilling to compromise the security of its network. The company reaffirmed that e-mail transmitted using its service would be safe from "snoopers" and stated, "governments have a wide range of resources and methodologies to satisfy national security and law enforcement needs without compromising commercial security requirements." The story makes no mention of any specific agreements between RIM and Indian security officials, beyond stating that RIM is looking forward to positive results.

Indian sources, meanwhile, are singing a different tune. According to The Indian Express, RIM has been informed that it will have to install servers and network equipment within India if it wishes to continue operating within the country. If RIM acquiesces, any such build-out would be subject to Indian law, and traffic passing through the center could be monitored to whatever degree the Union Home Ministry deems necessary.

The Hindustani Times, meanwhile, may have another piece of the puzzle. The paper claims that RIM has already agreed to hand over sensitive customer data to the government, provided that the government's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) take responsibility if such information is ever lost or stolen. The agreement reportedly covers financial liability as well, leaving RIM off the hook if the Indian government's SpyBerry program is ever hacked.

It may be a month or two before Research In Motion announces the details of its agreement with the Union Home Ministry, but the information coming out of India is at least plausible. RIM has yet to state, point-blank, that it will not allow the Indian government to access its network traffic in some form or another, and until that happens, all bets are off.