BANGKOK, April 23, 2025 — Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) will roll out its inaugural nationwide test of the Cell Broadcast emergency alert system next month. Scheduled for May 2, 7, and 13, the tests will be conducted with six key government agencies and Thailand’s major mobile network operators—Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Corporation, and National Telecom (NT).
The Cell Broadcast system, a technology that enables authorities to send targeted alerts directly to mobile phones in specific areas, is designed to deliver rapid, accurate warnings during emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, or tsunamis. Unlike traditional SMS, Cell Broadcast messages are sent instantly to all compatible devices within a designated area, bypassing network congestion—a critical feature for Thailand, which is prone to natural disasters, particularly during the monsoon season.
The DDPM has outlined a three-phase approach to ensure the system’s reliability:
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May 2, 1:00 p.m.: A small-scale indoor test will target provincial halls and government complexes, allowing authorities to assess the system’s functionality in controlled environments.
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May 7, 1:00 p.m.: A district-level test will expand the scope to five provinces, evaluating the system’s performance across broader geographic areas.
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May 13, 1:00 p.m.: A full provincial-level test will be conducted in Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok, simulating a real-world emergency scenario.
During each test, mobile phones will emit a loud alert accompanied by the message: “This is a test message from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). No action required.” The DDPM has stressed that these are drills, urging the public not to panic.
The Cell Broadcast alerts will be received by users with devices running Android 11 or later and iOS 18 or later. Those with older devices or incompatible systems will receive a standard SMS notification instead. The DDPM estimates that over 80% of Thailand’s mobile users, roughly 70 million people, have compatible devices, ensuring widespread coverage.
Thailand’s vulnerability to natural disasters—ranging from annual flooding in the north to tropical storms in the south—shows the need for an efficient warning system. During the recent earthquake in Myanmar that shook Bangkok, the lack of a timely and widespread alert system was a major critique from the Prime Minister, who ordered this fixed urgently, thus the upcoming tests.
“This system will save lives by delivering critical information directly to people’s phones, even in remote areas,” said DDPM Director-General Chaiwat Junthawong in a press briefing. “The May tests are crucial to ensuring we’re ready for real emergencies.”
The DDPM plans to evaluate the test results to refine the system before its official launch later in 2025. Additional tests may be scheduled based on the outcomes, with the goal of expanding coverage to all 77 provinces. The agency also intends to conduct public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the system and reduce confusion during future alerts.
For more information, contact the DDPM hotline at 192 or visit www.ddpm.go.th.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
