UK Emergency Alert System

The United Kingdom's mobile phone alert system is an emergency population warning system that uses cell broadcast.^[1] The coalition government first considered the technology in 2013-2015 but the project was shelved due to concerns over the cost, following the coronavirus pandemic the first test alert sent in May 2021.^[2] The warning system is intended for use in major incidents such as flooding or terror attacks.^[3] The Emergency Alert System was launched on 19 March 2023, and tested on a nationwide basis for the first time on 23 April 2023.

On 23 February 2024, the system's first non-test alert was sent to residents of Plymouth advising them to evacuate an area of the city due to the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in the back garden of a property.

^ "The National Attack Warning System". Civil Defence today. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^ Hughes, Matthew. "Rude awakening for O2 customers after network runs surprise test of emergency mobile alert to 90% of phones across the United Kingdom system". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
^ Woods, Ben (15 February 2021). "Testing of mass text alert system to flag viruses will begin next month". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

[1] "The National Attack Warning System". Civil Defence today. Retrieved 18 April 2021.

[Hughes-2] Hughes, Matthew. "Rude awakening for O2 customers after network runs surprise test of emergency mobile alert to 90% of phones across the United Kingdom system". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

[telegraph-3] Woods, Ben (15 February 2021). "Testing of mass text alert system to flag viruses will begin next month". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

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