The Thai government is set to conduct nationwide tests of its new Cell Broadcast emergency alert system in May 2025, aiming to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness and public safety measures.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced that the tests will occur in three phases:
- May 2, 2025: Small-scale tests in five locations, including Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Songkhla, and the Government Complex in Bangkok.
- May 7, 2025: Medium-scale tests at the district level in Mueang Districts of Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and Din Daeng District in Bangkok.
- May 13, 2025: Large-scale, province-wide tests in Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok.
Each test is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM local time. During these tests, mobile phones in the designated areas will emit a loud alert tone accompanied by a message in both Thai and English, stating:
“This is a test message from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). No action required.”
The Cell Broadcast system enables authorities to send emergency notifications directly to mobile devices within specific geographic areas, ensuring rapid dissemination of critical information during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or other emergencies. Unlike traditional SMS, Cell Broadcast messages do not require phone numbers and can reach a vast number of users simultaneously without network congestion.
The implementation of this system follows recent seismic activities, including a significant earthquake in neighboring Myanmar that was felt across Thailand, underscoring the need for efficient emergency communication channels.
The DDPM has collaborated with major telecom operators—Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Corp, and National Telecom—to ensure the system’s effectiveness. The Cell Broadcast service is compatible with Android devices running version 12 or higher and iPhones with iOS 18. For users with older devices or those on 2G and 3G networks, emergency alerts will continue to be delivered via SMS.
Authorities emphasize that these tests are routine and advise the public not to panic upon receiving the alerts. The goal is to ensure that, in the event of a real emergency, the alert system functions seamlessly to provide timely and accurate information to the public.
For more information and updates on the emergency alert system tests, residents can visit the official DDPM website or follow their social media channels.
