The alert system was sent across the network of all telecom operators across the country on Saturday, except in poll-bound States.

Mobile phones across the country went abuzz after Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the cell broadcast alert system on Saturday that will warn citizens about emergency and natural disasters in their area.

The Department of Telecom had already alerted citizens about the trial run of the service on April 29 to avoid panic, with an appeal to ignore any alerts they receive.

The test message read: “Extremely Severe Alert. India launched Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message- Government of India”.

The alert system was sent across the network of all telecom operators across the country, except in poll-bound States.

What is a cell broadcast test?

In contrast to standard text messages, cell broadcasts can reach all mobile phones within a designated geographical area, providing extensive and rapid coverage without putting excessive strain on telecom networks. This system has been particularly used by government agencies to deliver warnings and important updates to the public. To enhance the effectiveness of alert distribution in urgent situations—such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and human-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards—Cell Broadcast (CB) technology has been implemented alongside SMS.

What is NDMA test cell broadcast?

It is a test message sent by the NDMA in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India.

NDMA has successfully operationalised the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), created by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), which is the leading research and development centre under the Department of Telecommunications.

The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as recommended by the UN body International Telecommunication Union. It is currently operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India and delivers disaster and emergency-related alerts via SMS to mobile users within geo-targeted areas.

Cell Broadcast (CB) technology has been introduced alongside SMS, enabling alerts to be transmitted to all mobile devices within a defined geographic area simultaneously, ensuring near-real-time delivery.

‘Indigenous technology’

“Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, today launched the Cell Broadcast Alert System, developed indigenously by C-DOT in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah,” an official statement said.

Through this system, critical information related to disasters, emergencies, and public safety will be transmitted directly and instantly to citizens’ mobile phones, the statement said.

What if you didn’t receive the alert?

These “test messages” will only be delivered to mobile devices that have Cell Broadcast test channels enabled.

Users can toggle these alerts on or off by navigating to: Settings → Safety and emergency → Wireless emergency alerts → Test alerts. During the testing process, recipients may receive several messages to verify the proper operation of the entire mobile network infrastructure.

With PTI inputs

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

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