London [UK], April 24:Millions of mobile phones across Britain sounded a siren on Sunday as part of a test for a new national emergency alert system. The loud alarm was planned to ring at 3 pm (1400 GMT) on all devices using Britain's 4G and 5G networks.
The alert rang for 10 seconds and displayed a message notifying phone users that no action was needed in response to the test. Some smartphones also read out the message to recipients. Some users reported receiving the message a minute or so early after the test. However, others said their phone did not display the message or make a sound.
Phones powered off or switched to aeroplane mode were not expected to sound. The emergency alert system is designed to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby.
In the future, a similarly loud notification and message will be sent to those the British government seeks to reach. Once established, the system can be used in life-threatening situations, including flooding and wildfires.
Speaking before the test, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden conceded the drill could be "annoying" but that it had the potential to save people's lives once rolled out.
He told Sky News that the trial run was a "bit like when the fire alarm goes off at work." "It's a bit irritating at the time, but in the future, people could be grateful for it because, in a real emergency, this could be the sound that saves your life," he told Sky News.
The Cabinet minister denied the new system was an example of nanny state interference, telling the BBC he did not accept "that characterisation." People who do not wish to receive future alerts can opt out using their device settings, but officials hope the life-saving potential of the messages means users will keep them on.
The entertainment and sports sectors had been planning how to guard against disruption to large events when the test went off.
Source: Qatar Tribune