At around 11:42 am on Saturday, millions of smartphones across India suddenly beeped loudly, vibrated, and displayed a pop-up message marked “Extremely Severe Alert.” The government was not announcing a crisis. It was testing a new emergency warning system built entirely on Indian technology.
The message read: “India launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message. Government of India.”
What Is the Cell Broadcast Alert System?
Cell Broadcast is a method of sending short emergency messages simultaneously to all mobile phones within a defined geographic area. Unlike a standard SMS, which travels from one sender to one recipient, Cell Broadcast works on a one-to-many basis — one message reaches millions of devices within seconds.
The system does not require a phone number, a mobile app, or an internet connection. It uses cell tower infrastructure already in place across the country. When a message is sent, it reaches every handset connected to towers in the targeted area at the same time, regardless of network congestion.
The technology was developed in the early 1990s and first demonstrated in Paris in 1997. It is now used by more than 30 countries, including Japan, the United States, South Korea, and several European nations, to warn citizens about earthquakes, tsunamis, gas leaks, and other emergencies.
India’s Indigenous System: SACHET
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has operationalised an Integrated Alert System called SACHET — a name that itself means “alert” — developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the research and development arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The system is built on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It is currently active across all 36 states and Union Territories of India.
SACHET has already demonstrated its reach. Disaster management authorities have used it to send over 134 billion SMS alerts in more than 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, cyclones, and severe weather events.
Saturday’s test marked the introduction of Cell Broadcast technology as a significant upgrade alongside the existing SMS-based system.
Why Cell Broadcast Is a Step Up from SMS
Standard SMS alerts can be delayed during network congestion, which is common during large-scale emergencies. Cell Broadcast bypasses this problem entirely. Messages are delivered in near real-time and override phone settings, including silent and do-not-disturb modes, producing a distinct alarm sound and keeping the alert on screen until the user acknowledges it.
The system also requires no personal data. Users do not need to register, share phone numbers, or install anything. Visitors and foreign tourists within the alert area also receive the message, potentially in their own language if multi-language support is active.
The DoT stated on Saturday: “A step forward in strengthening how we communicate during critical situations. This initiative reflects a continued commitment to building a more responsive and resilient communication ecosystem for citizens across the country.”
When Will It Go Live?
The current phase involves nationwide testing and trials to assess system performance before its formal inauguration. Once fully operational, Cell Broadcast alerts will be sent in multiple Indian languages to all mobile handsets, regardless of individual settings, ensuring no citizen in an affected area is missed.
The system is designed to respond to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and lightning strikes, as well as man-made emergencies including gas leaks and chemical hazards.
During the testing period, some users may receive the message more than once. This is normal. The DoT has confirmed that no action is required from the public.
Users who want to manage test alert settings can do so by navigating to: Settings → Safety and Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → Test Alerts.
More Ground Reports
What does Ramsar status actually change for Bihar’s wetlands?
MP Poshan Aahar Closures Put Rural Women’s Livelihoods at Risk
