DoT, NDMA Begin Testing of Cell Broadcast Alerts for Disaster Response

In a significant move to enhance India’s disaster preparedness and public safety infrastructure, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has launched nationwide testing of an advanced Cell Broadcast (CB) based public alert system. This initiative is a part of India’s ongoing efforts to deploy a mobile-enabled disaster communication system that can effectively reach citizens during emergencies with minimal delay.

The system is being developed and implemented by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)—India’s premier telecom R&D institution. The initiative follows the successful rollout of SACHET, an SMS-based geo-targeted Integrated Alert System, already operational across all 36 States and Union Territories (UTs) of the country.

From SMS to Real-Time Alerts: Evolution of Disaster Communication

India’s current disaster alert framework relies heavily on SMS-based alerts sent through the SACHET platform, which adheres to the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Since its inception, SACHET has delivered over 6,899 crore emergency alert SMS messages in more than 19 Indian languages, reaching citizens during cyclones, floods, landslides, earthquakes, and other weather-related or natural disasters.

However, despite the system’s scale, SMS alerts have limitations, including:

• Network congestion during disasters

• Delayed message delivery

• Inability to reach feature phones or non-smart devices simultaneously

To overcome these challenges, the government is now integrating Cell Broadcast technology, which allows for instant, simultaneous dissemination of emergency alerts to all mobile phones in a specified geographical area—even if networks are overloaded.

Understanding Cell Broadcast: Near Real-Time, Location-Specific Alerts

Unlike SMS, Cell Broadcast (CB) operates by broadcasting messages from mobile towers (Base Transceiver Stations - BTS) to all mobile devices in the coverage area. The technology allows for:

• Near real-time alert transmission

• Multilingual support

• No need for phone numbers

• High reliability during emergencies

• Support for feature phones and smartphones alike

CB alerts are commonly used across developed nations for public warning systems, including in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and several European Union countries. India’s adoption of this technology marks a technological leap forward in citizen safety and emergency response.

National Testing Underway: What Citizens Should Expect

As part of the Pan-India rollout, DoT and NDMA have commenced a nationwide test of the Cell Broadcast system, which will last 2–4 weeks. During this period, citizens may receive test messages on their mobile phones in English and Hindi. These test alerts are:

• Sent only to mobile devices with CB test channels enabled

• Broadcast through mobile towers across the country

• Non-intrusive and require no action from recipients

• May be received multiple times during testing

Sample Test Message (English):

This is a TEST Cell Broadcast message sent by the National Disaster Management Authority in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, as part of testing the Cell Broadcast solution for disseminating alerts. During the testing of the Cell Broadcast solution, you may receive this message multiple times on your mobile handset. Please ignore these message(s); no action is required at your end.

Sample Test Message (Hindi):

यह एक टेस्ट सेल ब्रॉडकास्ट संदेश है, जिसे राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रबंधन प्राधिकरण (NDMA) ने दूरसंचार विभाग (DoT), भारत सरकार के साथ मिलकर सेल ब्रॉडकास्ट समाधान के परीक्षण के तहत भेजा है। परीक्षण के दौरान आपको यह संदेश अपने मोबाइल पर कई बार प्राप्त हो सकता है। कृपया इन संदेशों को अनदेखा करें, आपकी ओर से कोई कार्रवाई करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है।

Towards a Safer, More Connected India

Upon successful validation, the Cell Broadcast system will become operational across India, capable of sending alerts in multiple Indian languages and reaching all mobile handsets, regardless of test settings. This will ensure:

• Rapid dissemination of life-saving information

• Wider public coverage

• Greater resilience during critical incidents

Alerts will be used for both natural disasters (like earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes) and man-made emergencies (such as gas leaks, industrial accidents, or terror incidents).

DoT and NDMA have emphasized that the current testing phase is a planned and vital part of system calibration. Citizens are urged to remain calm and cooperate by simply ignoring the test messages, as no response or action is needed.

A Step Toward Global-Standard Disaster Readiness

This initiative reflects India’s commitment to leveraging indigenous technology for public welfare. With C-DOT at the helm of development, the project aligns with the broader goals of Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

India is now on course to join a global community of nations that utilize broadcast emergency systems to protect lives and ensure timely, reliable, and inclusive public warning mechanisms.