On Saturday, after a test phase of several weeks, the ‘AT-Alert’ warning system, which warns the population of disasters via mobile phones and smartphones, will come into effect. In addition to the annual siren test, a test alarm is also sent via mobile phone for the first time.
These are so-called ‘cell broadcasts’. This means that – similar to a radio station’s station identification, which also transmits additional information about the piece of music just played – the alerts are simply received and displayed by the mobile device. The message appears immediately on the screen, regardless of how you have configured the device, the FMK explains.
Check your phone settings!
However, to be on the safe side, the forum recommends making sure that all alerts are allowed in the settings under the “Emergency Alerts” menu. However, if you have an old push-button cell phone, check the “Cell Broadcast” menu item to see if the device also supports cell broadcasts. Old mobile phones in particular do not do this. Mobile phones that support cell broadcast receive at least the highest warning level.
Even if the mobile phone is muted, the alarm will go off, the FMK warned. To prevent this, the mobile phone must be put in airplane mode. If you are at events, squares or in buildings where it should be quiet on Saturday – for example in nursing homes or hospitals – it is advisable to activate flight mode between 12 noon or to switch off older push-button telephones to the FMK.
Alarm only comes if you have reception
However, if there is no reception, the alarms cannot be received. So if you are in a basement or on a mountain, the news will only come when the reception situation is slightly better. However, text messages require a much lower connection quality than when you want to make calls or use data-intensive apps.
Furthermore, these alerts are sent over networks. The messages come from any mobile network and not just the home network, as long as each network is within range. This includes prepaid cell phones, not just contract cell phones. Guests in Austria – such as tourists – also receive the warning. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the message will be sent in German and English.
Alerts are usually limited to regions
The alerts are sent locally. You will receive all alerts for the region you are in. This means that, for example, someone who lives in place A but works in place B will receive a warning about place B, but not about his or her place of residence and vice versa.
The purpose of “AT-Alert” is to only warn people who are directly affected by a dangerous situation. Therefore, alerts are only sent via cell phone stations in this area. The FMK explained which area is demarcated by the warning centers. The mobile network operators have no influence on this, just as the mobile network operators have no influence on the type of warning – warning level or text – itself.
Source: Krone
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