Saudi firms face $1.3 million fine over BlackBerry order

Saudi telecom companies will face a fine of 1.3 million dollars if they fail to comply with the regulator's order to suspend BlackBerry services, a company official told AFP on Wednesday. "The companies will comply with the decision as those who don't will be fined five million Saudi riyals (1.3 million dollars)," the official from one of Saudi Arabia's three telecom companies said on condition of anonymity.
"We will also comply for security reasons," he added. "There are big hopes in convincing" BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) "to provide Saudi Arabia with a local server," he said, adding the three companies met RIM on Wednesday and that more meetings would follow. However, each of the three telecom providers has its own alternative plan in case negotiations with the Canadian maker of BlackBerry fail, he said, without elaborating.