EU-Alert

EU-Alert is the generic term for the European Public Warning Service based upon Cell Broadcast technology.

EU-Alert is compatible with Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) standard as used in the United States. Since 2012, and by default, mobile phone OSes like Android, iOS, and Windows support EU-Alert via Cell Broadcast for public warning messages.

Extreme threats: Classified as threats to people’s life and property, like an impending catastrophic weather event (hurricane, tsunami, typhoon, flooding), disease epidemic warnings or terrorist attacks.

[3]

Severe threats: Less serious than the extreme threats, these could be the same types of situations, but on a smaller scale — stay safe, but no need to pack up the car and head for the hills.

EU-Amber, : These are specific alerts aimed at locating a missing child.

Amber alerts

EU-Info, Public Safety Messages to convey essential, recommended actions that can save lives or property (e.g. emergency shelter locations or a boil water order).

EU-Exercise, Test messages for national/regional/local purposes.

The EU-Alert standard (TS 102 900 V1.3.1)^[2] as defined by ETSI is the European Public Warning Service using the Cell Broadcast Service as a means of delivering public warning messages to the general public.

Specific countries using the EU-Alert service are identified by replacing the letters EU with the Country Identification letters in ISO 3166-1.

Dependent on the country legislation there are 5 types of Public Warning Service (PWS) messages one can receive on the mobile device. They're grouped into Cell Broadcast headings and channels, and include:

In countries that have selected Cell Broadcast as the technology to submit public warning messages up to 70–85% of the population older than 12 years will receive the public warning verification message within seconds after the government authorities have submitted the message. Cell Broadcast is since 2012 supported by the default messaging app in Android, iOS and Windows 10. Similar systems based on Cell Broadcast have been used in other countries, for example Emergency Mobile Alert (New Zealand) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (US).

: the national variant of EU-Alert for the Netherlands.

NL-Alert

: the national variant of EU-Alert for Greece.

GR-Alert

: the national variant of EU-Alert for Lithuania.

LT-Alert

:^[4] the national variant of EU-Alert for Romania.

RO-Alert

:^[5] the national variant of EU-Alert for Spain (started testing in October-November 2022).

ES-Alert

: The national variant of EU-Alert for France. (started testing in May 2022)^[6] the beginning of the national utilization is planned for the end of June 2022.^[7]

FR-Alert

: the national variant of EU-Alert for Germany.^[8]

DE-Alert

(in English "The S!REN"): the national variant of EU-Alert for Denmark.^[9] The system was formally launched in April 2023,^[10] and was first activated during Denmark's annual national test of the civil defense siren system in May 2023.

S!RENEN

: Norway launched its system in 2023^[11]

Nødvarsel

:the national variant of EU-Alert for Croatia (both LB-SMS and Cell Broadcast).

HR-Alert

: the national variant of EU-Alert for Italy; launched in February 2024.^[12]

IT-Alert

The following countries have an operational EU-Alert system based on the standard using Cell Broadcast technology:

The following countries are in the implementation or testing stage of EU-Alert system based on the standard using Cell Broadcast technology:

The following countries use Location-Based SMS systems which do not adhere to the ETSI EU-Alert standard, but might fulfill the EU legislation.

Target the affected population by specific geography so as not to cause widespread panic

Reach a high percentage of people in the targeted area, not just residents but roaming visitors using their native language

Send messages in real-time, within seconds and with a high degree of reliability

Send message without the need for the public to have to opt-in

The transmission of public warning messages should be free of charge for end-users not just residents but also roaming visitors

As per 11 December 2018, the Council of the European Union has adopted the new Directive on European Electronic Communications Code (EECC).^[19] Under the new Directive, all EU member states will also have to set up a public warning system to protect citizens. This system will send alerts to all citizens and visitors mobile phones in a specific area in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other major emergency in their area.

The mandatory implementation of the public warning system will have to be in place by 21 June 2022 for each EU member state (Full text of the European Electronic Communications Code).

Requirements under the Legislation: According to the directive a Public Warning System (PWS) must be able to:

BEREC guidelines[edit]

According to the Article 110(2) EECC, by 21 June 2020, BEREC must publish guidelines on how to assess whether the effectiveness of public warning systems under Article 110(2) EECC is equivalent to the effectiveness of those systems under the Article 110(1) EECC.

As efficient as network-based technologies

Reception of the alert should be easy

Information to all visitors entering the country

Transmission of the alert is free to the user

Comply with privacy rules

Cell Broadcast

Reverse 1-1-2

(Netherlands)

NL-Alert

(USA)

Wireless Emergency Alerts

(Canada)

Alert Ready

(New Zealand)