Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #emergencyalerts
Most recents (3)
Initial outcome of Emergency Alert testing (Cell Broadcast): all networks except Three received an alert in my household.
*One* person in a large group of us around the UK received the alert on Three, in Cardiff.
Let's go into why.
#EmergencyAlerts
*One* person in a large group of us around the UK received the alert on Three, in Cardiff.
Let's go into why.
#EmergencyAlerts
Networks who successfully performed the trial did rebroadcast the signalling (SIB12-v920) continuously for the full 20 minute duration of the test, stopping the alert at about 15:21.
This meant, if you had a device in airplane mode until 15:15, you'd still get the alert.
This meant, if you had a device in airplane mode until 15:15, you'd still get the alert.
The question of why Three didn't propagate the message correctly through its core is an interesting one, and one we also saw in the initial trials last summer.
On my Three device, I received zero signalling at all for the alert on my local Samsung or Ericsson sites.
On my Three device, I received zero signalling at all for the alert on my local Samsung or Ericsson sites.
Myth busting #emergencyalerts
1. They are a broadcast so one-way, you cannot reply to a message.
2. They’re broadcast for a defined period e.g 1 minute, up to, but not exceeding 24 hours. They’re not a one-shot like SMS.
1. They are a broadcast so one-way, you cannot reply to a message.
2. They’re broadcast for a defined period e.g 1 minute, up to, but not exceeding 24 hours. They’re not a one-shot like SMS.
3. They're not subject to network congestion. Millions of handsets can receive the message within 8-10 seconds of sending the alert.
4. It won’t disable your phone or lock you out. You will have to click OK or ‘x’ to dismiss the message. There's no way to track this interaction.
4. It won’t disable your phone or lock you out. You will have to click OK or ‘x’ to dismiss the message. There's no way to track this interaction.
5. More than 20 countries use this technology, the first operational service was in the Netherlands (2012).
6. The technology is already built into the handsets. Travelling to countries already using cell broadcast/emergency alerts enables this facility on your phone.
6. The technology is already built into the handsets. Travelling to countries already using cell broadcast/emergency alerts enables this facility on your phone.
A consolidated thread of my recent #EmergencyAlerts 🚨tweets feels necessary. Note: this is just my take on things. Not official. Also not being drawn on rationale/conspiracy. 🧵
Q: What is #EmergencyAlerts?
A: A way to send notifications (not text messages) to compatible phones and tablets if a threshold is met.
A: A way to send notifications (not text messages) to compatible phones and tablets if a threshold is met.
Q: Where are #EmergencyAlerts issued to?
A: Emergency alerts are sent to ward-level areas based on mobile phone mast density. You don't need to turn on location services, download an app or register.
A: Emergency alerts are sent to ward-level areas based on mobile phone mast density. You don't need to turn on location services, download an app or register.
