Emergency alerts to be sent to UK smartphones
2 hours ago Share Save Aleks Phillips BBC News Share Save
Watch UK alert go off from a government test in 2023
The national system for sending emergency alerts to mobile phones in the UK will be tested again this September, the government has said. It will see compatible phones vibrate and make a siren sound for 10 seconds while displaying a message at 15:00 BST on 7 September, even if they are set to silent. The alerts are intended for situations in which there is an imminent danger to life, such as extreme weather events or during a terror attack. Though the system has been deployed regionally five times in the past few years, a previous nationwide test in 2023 revealed technical issues - with some people receiving the alert earlier than expected and some not receiving it at all.
Many on the Three network did not get anything, along with users on other networks - while some received multiple alerts. The government later said the message did not reach around 7% of compatible devices. The Cabinet Office said at the time that the problems uncovered would be reviewed and addressed ahead of another test. It said September's test is intended to ensure the system works well and to make sure people are familiar with the alerts, in line with other countries that also use them, like the US and Japan. Of the approximately 87 million mobile phones in the UK, the alert will only appear on smartphones on 4G or 5G networks. Older phones, and phones connected to 2G or 3G networks, will not receive the message. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said: "Just like the fire alarm in your house, it's important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it."
PA Media A previous national test took place in April 2023