Border phone customers warned of UK emergency text test

Loud, siren-like sound and distinct vibration.

Mobile phone customers near border areas who roam onto a UK mobile phone networks are being told they may receive an alert as the UK Government tests a new emergency text system this coming weekend.

The test will take place between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday next, April 23 .

Mobile phone customers on mobile phone networks based in Ireland will not receive the message. However, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications says some phone customers along the border who roam onto a UK mobile phone networks during this time will receive the alert/message.

Recipients will hear a loud, siren-like sound and the phone will use a distinct vibration.

A message willalso appear on their home screen until it is acknowledged.

The UK Emergency Alerts System, which is operational across Britain and Northern Ireland, was launched on Sunday, March 19. The system enables the UK Government send an 'alert' message to all mobile phones and devices (such as certain tablets) if there is an emergency (for example, an extreme weather event) where lives are endangered.

Phone users are told that an Emergency Alert looks and sounds different to other types of messages such as SMS 'text messages'. The notification will take the form of the screenshot below, however the content of the message will differ.

The alert will include a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

Any texts sent by the UK Emergency Alerts system in Northern Ireland may be received by some people in border counties in Ireland, even if some of those recipients normally subscribe to a mobile phone service in Ireland.

Details of UK Emergency Alerts can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/alerts.

The Irish Government is also developing a Public Warning System (PWS), which will be operational in late 2024, subject to procurement and government approval.

For more information click HERE.