The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has started nationwide testing of a new mobile-based disaster alert system to strengthen India’s emergency communication infrastructure.
The new mobile alert system will help send emergency warnings to people across India in real time.
The alert system, based on Cell Broadcast (CB) technology, is being tested as part of the government’s broader initiative to enhance real-time dissemination of critical alerts during emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, and industrial hazards.
The system is being indigenously developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a leading R&D organisation under the Department of Telecom.
Unlike SMS alerts, CB messages are broadcast to all mobile phones in a specific area, ensuring rapid delivery even in congested networks. The technology enables alerts to reach citizens almost instantly, making it highly effective during time-sensitive disasters.
This new system is in addition to the already-operational Integrated Alert System (SACHET), which has delivered over 6,899 crore SMS alerts in more than 19 Indian languages across all 36 States and Union Territories. SACHET is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The CB testing phase, lasting 2–4 weeks, will include test messages sent in English and Hindi to mobile phones that have the CB test channel enabled.
Only mobile phones with Cell Broadcast test channels enabled will receive these test messages. Also, some people might get the same message more than once, as the system is being tested across the entire mobile network, including all base stations and towers.
Citizens may receive alerts during this period, which are clearly marked as test messages and require no action.
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Once fully operational, the CB system will broadcast alerts in multiple Indian languages to all mobile users, ensuring broad and inclusive public reach.
Authorities have requested public cooperation during this important phase, stressing that the alerts are solely for system validation.
