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Australia to Test Nationwide Emergency Alert System on July 27
A national test of the AusAlert emergency warning system is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, July 27. The test will send a text message to phones across Australia using cell broadcast technology.
Jul 20, 10:37 PM·1m read1 source
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Australia will conduct a nationwide test of its new AusAlert emergency warning system at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 27. The test message will read: "This is a TEST alert of AusAlert, Australia's new emergency warning system. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED." Up to 25 million phones are expected to receive the 10-second alarm.
AusAlert uses cell broadcast technology that sends messages from selected mobile towers to every compatible device in range. Officials say the system can target alerts down to street level without requiring phone numbers. The technology operates in more than 30 countries. It is not affected by network congestion that can impact SMS-based systems.
The system will issue warnings for natural disasters, public safety threats, and health or biosecurity incidents. State-run warning systems will continue alongside AusAlert. Some older phones may not receive the message. Officials noted that devices must be powered on, connected to a mobile tower, and not in airplane mode to receive the alert.
Previous tests in other countries encountered various issues. Germany recorded a 20-minute delay in 2022. New Zealand's test activated at 1:30 a.m. in 2017. Australia's test is intended to identify technical and operational problems before the system is used in actual emergencies.
