Next week is a new nationwide warning system by the government is taken into use. People who are near life – or health situations are getting with the system message on their mobile phone.
On 12 november start-up of the government with the use of the new alarmmiddel NL-Alert. This system allows the government to citizens in the immediate vicinity of an emergency through the mobile phone warn. In the message described what the situation is and what people at that time can do the best. Possibly follow later messages that provide updates on the situation to provide. A NL-Alert will only be sent if there is a acute life – or health-situations and is sent by the control room of the emergency services.
The alarm sends by means of a cell broadcasting a message to mobile phones that are in the conscious region. This technology sends text messages in a similar way as for the Amber Alert. To the area and accurately define, the Netherlands is therefore divided into 5000 cells. Cell broadcast messages are to be via a separate channel in the network is delivered and do not work via sms. Therefore, the message is still delivered if, for example, by a disaster, the normal sms traffic platligt.
In the NL-Alert saves the government any data, so the service is anonymous. Currently supports 60 percent of all mobile phones messages through cell broadcasting. According to the government, this percentage rapidly in the coming years. Through a special temperature range can can be used to check whether a mobile phone, the NL-Alert supports and whether further settings are required.
In 2010, it turned out that a lot of smartphones at the time, the cell broadcasting technology is not supported. At the time, went to the government with the manufacturers, in conversation, in which, among other Sony Ericsson with a solution. In August 2011, there was a test place in Zoetermeer, Rotterdam and Enschede to the NL-Alert. In addition to the EN-to stay Alert the current waarschuwingssirenes still exist.