Canadians will receive emergency alert messages through their LTE-compatible mobile device as of April 6. Public alerts are already issued through radio, cable and satellite television, email and text services and effective April 6 will be distributed on compatible wireless devices to ensure the public receives alerts immediately and knows when and how to take action and stay safe.
Long-term evolution (LTE) wireless networks reach more than 98.5 percent of Canadians which means that alerts can be very specific to a limited coverage area where there is imminent danger. Location services do not have to be enabled to be able to receive alerts.
While the alerts may look like text messages they are actually sent via Cell Broadcast distribution. This is a mobile technology that uses a designated part of the network that is separate from normal text and data traffic and allows messages to be broadcast to all compatible wireless devices within a targeted geographical area. While the alerts may look like text messages, they are not text messages and will not be billed.
Wireless alerts will use the same alert tone as is currently broadcasted on radio or television and will utilize a unique vibration. Alerts will include the necessary information for any required action.
Alerts won’t terminate voice calls or data sessions in progress but if you are on a call you will hear a notification tone. Data sessions will be briefly interrupted as the emergency alert appears on the device screen. Devices that are turned off will not receive the message unless the alert is still active when the device is turned on. Devices that are set to silent mode will display the emergency alert but no sound will accompany it. If you are travelling you will only receive an alert for the region you are in.
“Nothing is more important than making sure Canadians are informed in a timely matter about an imminent danger such as a tornado, wildfire or Amber Alert when a child’s life is in grave danger. Mandatory distribution of public emergency alert messages on mobile devices will help do just that. Along with the wireless industry and our partners in federal, provincial and territorial governments, the CRTC has worked to provide Canadians with the emergency system they need to take appropriate safety measures if need be,” said Ian Scott, CRTC chairperson and CEO.
Partners for the Alert Ready system include federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, The Weather Network, as well as the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers.
Wireless service providers will be conducting a nationwide public alerting test during Emergency Preparedness Week from May 6 to 12, 2018. Canadians will have an opportunity at that time to become familiar with how the emergency alerts will be delivered and what they will sound like.
