Communications, Company News, IT Services
Emergency Alerts System Test Announcement
As an Ofcom registered Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Communications Provider, the UK Government have asked us to communicate the following important information to all our customer to raise awareness of the upcoming Emergency Alert System Tests.
What is the Emergency Alert System?
The system is like the one deployed in the United States which is used to warn of natural disasters and terrorist incidents. It is a message that can be broadcast to all the mobile devices within a specified area to make the public aware of vital, life-saving information in a time of crisis.
When will the test take place?
The test will occur on Sunday the 23rd of April at 3pm.
What will happen? Do I have to do anything?
At the time of the test’s occurrence, your mobile phone will display a message notifying you that the test is happening, while also playing a loud alarm sound that will last for approximately 10 seconds – even if the device is on silent. You will not be able to use your mobile device as normal until you acknowledge & dismiss the notification, which you can do in the same way you would normally clear any other notification – by swiping, for example.
If, for any reason, you have a mobile device that you may not want to play the emergency alert, then domestic violence support & awareness charity Refuge have created this instructional video about how to disable the alerts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2MBcHwmiy8
Is the Government tracking me with the system?
No – the system is extremely unlikely, if not impossible, to be used in this way. While the emergency alerts will normally be used on a local area, your location is not ‘known’ to the Government per se, rather, all the mobile phone signal towers in the immediate area will start broadcasting the message to any device nearby.
Are all phones supported to receive the Emergency Alert?
No – not all mobile phones are able to receive the alert. This is because the alert requires the latest, mainstream Operating System versions. Supported devices include:
- iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
- Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
If your phone does not meet these requirements, then you may still be able to receive Emergency Alerts. To check, navigate to your phone settings and look for the ‘Emergency Alerts’ section.
To find out more, visit https://www.gov.uk/alerts
