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A second test of the national emergency alert system for mobile phones is scheduled for this Sunday, 7 September. The alerts are meant to be utilized in scenarios where there is an immediate threat to life, such as extreme weather events or a potential terror attack. The initial test conducted in April 2023 uncovered several technical issues, with some users receiving multiple messages while others did not receive anything at all.
The emergency alert will be sent to all smartphones on the UK’s 4G and 5G networks, regardless of whether they are connected to mobile data or wi-fi. Approximately 87 million mobile phones are in use in the UK, with the government estimating that about 95% of the population has access to 4G or 5G networks. However, older phones and those connected to 2G or 3G networks will not receive the alert, nor will phones that are switched off or in airplane mode.
While the government advises users to enable their devices to receive emergency alerts, it is possible to opt out of receiving them. This can be achieved by navigating to the “emergency alerts” section in your phone’s settings and turning off “severe alerts” and “extreme alerts”. The government has provided a guide on how to opt out if desired. During the first test in 2023, several users encountered issues such as receiving the alert before or after the scheduled time, not receiving it at all, or receiving multiple messages. The government acknowledged that around 7% of compatible devices did not receive the test alert and pledged to address these problems before future tests.
The emergency alert system has been implemented in real-life situations as well, such as when residents in Plymouth were instructed to evacuate after a suspected World War Two bomb was discovered in a local garden. Police officers interacted with residents and facilitated the evacuation process, eventually removing the bomb via military convoy for disposal at sea
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