Government expected to tender for upgrade of country's public warning system

This emergency alert looks and sounds different to other types of messages such as SMS text messages and can be received even if the mobile device is set to ‘silent’ or ‘do not disturb’. File photo

The Government is expected to start tendering for the country’s Cell Broadcast Public Warning System.

The system will see Ireland operating a public warning system, similar to those already in use in other countries around the world. In Spain, block messages and other alerts are sent whenever there is an imminent danger of flooding.

The UK tested its own Emergency Alert Service, which was established in April 2023, at the weekend, with people living on the border counties warned in advance the tests were going to take place.

In their system, people receive a message on their mobile phone, followed by an audio alert and a vibration of up to 10 seconds.

This emergency alert looks and sounds different to other types of messages such as SMS text messages and can be received even if the mobile device is set to ‘silent’ or ‘do not disturb’.

Asked if the Government had plans for such a system, a Department of Communication spokesperson said: “Subject to Government approval, it is expected the procurement of the technical solution for the cell broadcasting public warning system will begin this year.”

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Ireland put in place a mobile phone text-based emergency public warning text system in November 2023, as required under the EU Electronic Communications Code Directive.

If activated, this allows phone operators to send text messages to the public on behalf of the Government in the event of a major emergency.

However, a Cell broadcast (CB) Warning System is more sophisticated than the existing system and does not get impacted by mobile network capacity, congestion or SMS character limits. 

It can also be sent to mobile phone users in a specific geographic area.