Thailand Successfully Tests Mobile Emergency Alert System Amid Earthquake Wake-Up Call

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

A full-scale test of Thailand's mobile emergency alert system hit all the right notes on Friday, showcasing that the system is finally functional. This follows increasing pressure after a March 28 earthquake struck Bangkok, causing widespread alarm and demands for a rapid emergency communication system.

 

Telecom giants AIS, True Corp, and National Telecom ran the test with the support of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

 

The test proved that both Android and iPhone users can receive alerts thanks to Apple’s latest iOS 18, which supports this crucial service.

 

Running a cell broadcast service like this involves a virtual cell broadcast entity (CBE) and cell broadcast centres (CBCs), critical elements that help relay emergency messages quickly to mobile users.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) aims to set up the CBE system, centralising command for emergency alerts.

 

 

 

The CBC systems, already installed by the telecom operators, allow messages approved by the DDPM to be rapidly disseminated. Unlike traditional SMS messages, cell broadcasts don’t need specific phone numbers, ensuring swift delivery to entire regions without requiring special apps.

 

Currently, these broadcasts work on Android handsets with version 12 or above and iPhones running iOS 18, leaving older 2G and 3G devices, plus older iPhone models, out in the cold.

 

To handle this, SMS alerts remain a necessity for users stuck with unsupported systems. According to the NBTC, AIS has 1.6 million users on outdated services, with True hosting 900,000 such subscriptions.

 

Despite these advancements, the DDPM continues to refine its part in establishing a robust, reliable emergency alert system necessary for Thailand's future preparedness. The recent success serves as a pivotal step forward in the face of natural disasters.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-19

 

 

[Will B Good]

They should have given this task to True.....they seem to be able to send an sms to everyones phones every 30 seconds.

[petedk]

Was this tested nationwide?  I didn't receive anything.

[soi3eddie]

How much use could this be? I understand a Tsunami warning as it usually has quite some time before hitting. But, an earthquake? How long was it after the seismic activity in Mandalay, Burma before the shockwaves hit Bangkok? Would there be enough time to even get a warning out?

 

[ronster]

53 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

How much use could this be? I understand a Tsunami warning as it usually has quite some time before hitting. But, an earthquake? How long was it after the seismic activity in Mandalay, Burma before the shockwaves hit Bangkok? Would there be enough time to even get a warning out?

 

Was around 30 seconds before hit that brought down the building in bkk seemingly started . Basically if you are in a building that is not well built and on the 3rd floor or above you would struggle to get out as everyone would be trying to do the same thing.

[simon43]

[quote]

...

This follows increasing pressure after a March 28 earthquake struck Bangkok,

...

[/quote]

 

I wasn't aware that an earthquake struck Bangkok.  Earth tremors from the earthquake that struck just west of Mandalay (Burma) were felt in Bangkok and other regions in south-east Asia.

 

Bangkok is not on a tectonic plate fault line, and nor is it a 'hotspot' (thin tectonic plate region).

 

Kudos for testing the mobile alert system, but better to use it for tsunami alerts (usually have some time before any large wave hits the coast). Gives the folks in Chiang Mai time to run up the nearest mountain....

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

How much use could this be? I understand a Tsunami warning as it usually has quite some time before hitting. But, an earthquake? How long was it after the seismic activity in Mandalay, Burma before the shockwaves hit Bangkok? Would there be enough time to even get a warning out?

 

My thoughts exactly... that earthquake like most are unpredictable.

What would the emergency message say?

"What you just felt was an earthquake,take shelter somewhere safe"

[wensiensheng]

Better to focus on the (likely) non operational tsunami warning system . Plus all the white markings they painted on the roads near where I live saying, tsunami evacuation route, have worn off. Don’t think the latter did much good tbh, but if it was part of an overall plan, it’s now gone.

 

An earthquake? Better to focus on building better buildings. Warnings come too late because the quake already happened,  and where would you go? 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

How much use could this be? I understand a Tsunami warning as it usually has quite some time before hitting. But, an earthquake? How long was it after the seismic activity in Mandalay, Burma before the shockwaves hit Bangkok? Would there be enough time to even get a warning out?

 

 

This was actually announced last year...  Though I'm not sure why it took so long for trials to be carried out...  20/20 hindsight could offer criticism that it 'could have' been ready for the March 28th quake.... It possibly took time as individual telecoms companies were fighting to get their own versions out.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1321682-thailand-trials-first-mobile-phone-emergency-alert-system/

ough 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331505-true-corporation’s-emergency-alert-system-unveiled/

 

 

As you question, how could it be useful for an earthquake ?

 

There are different types of waves that hit during an earthquake. 

 

P-Waves (Primary Waves)

Fastest (6–8 km/s) / Compressional (push-pull motion)

First to arrive / Least damaging 

 

S-Waves (Secondary Waves)

Slower than P-waves (3.5–4.5 km/s) / Side-to-side or up-down motion / More destructive

 

Surface Waves (Love & Rayleigh)

Slowest (2–4 km/s) / Travel along Earth’s surface / Most damaging

Rolling, rippling, and twisting motion.

 

Given the distance between the epicenter near Mandalay and Bangkok, P-waves would have reached the city in approximately 2.5 to 3 minutes, while S-waves would have arrived around 4.5 to 6 minutes after the earthquake occurred, and Surface Waves approximately 8  minutes.

 

 

Thus: an alert system would give 'some time' for people to get out of 'high risk buildings' - that said, when buildings are built to withstand a quake, escaping the building is not the recommended course of action due to the risk of falling glass etc - apart from one building, all of Bangkoks buildings survived amicably (none collapsed) - thus staying put was the best option, escaping the riskiest.

Written with 20/20 hindsight - as quakes this large are unprecedented in Bangkok and Thailand, no one knew how the buildings in Bangkok might hold up.

 

----------------

 

I was in Japan when an 'Emergency alert' went off - I was in a tall building, the alert went off on my phone and watch (loud buzzing) it worked very well even though I was on a Thai Sim (with roaming) - shortly after the alarm the building swayed - I already knew the magnitude of the quake (from the alert), more importantly I knew was what was going on so didn't feel any concern (I think the quake was about a magnitude 6 on the Richter scale - and I knew buildings in Tokyo are built to handle that)

 

----------------

 

This alert would have greater impact for Tsunami early warning and would obviously need to be tied into Thailands 'Tsunami early warning systems' - the maintenance of which has been criticised in the past - But, the alert could also be tied to earthquake warmings from nearby faults such as The Sunda fault, offshore Ache (north Sumatra), which caused the 2004 Tsunami.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only

 

A full-scale test of Thailand's mobile emergency alert system hit all the right notes on Friday, showcasing that the system is finally functional. This follows increasing pressure after a March 28 earthquake struck Bangkok, causing widespread alarm and demands for a rapid emergency communication system.

 

Telecom giants AIS, True Corp, and National Telecom ran the test with the support of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

 

The test proved that both Android and iPhone users can receive alerts thanks to Apple’s latest iOS 18, which supports this crucial service.

 

Running a cell broadcast service like this involves a virtual cell broadcast entity (CBE) and cell broadcast centres (CBCs), critical elements that help relay emergency messages quickly to mobile users.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) aims to set up the CBE system, centralising command for emergency alerts.

 

 

 

The CBC systems, already installed by the telecom operators, allow messages approved by the DDPM to be rapidly disseminated. Unlike traditional SMS messages, cell broadcasts don’t need specific phone numbers, ensuring swift delivery to entire regions without requiring special apps.

 

Currently, these broadcasts work on Android handsets with version 12 or above and iPhones running iOS 18, leaving older 2G and 3G devices, plus older iPhone models, out in the cold.

 

To handle this, SMS alerts remain a necessity for users stuck with unsupported systems. According to the NBTC, AIS has 1.6 million users on outdated services, with True hosting 900,000 such subscriptions.

 

Despite these advancements, the DDPM continues to refine its part in establishing a robust, reliable emergency alert system necessary for Thailand's future preparedness. The recent success serves as a pivotal step forward in the face of natural disasters.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-19

 

 

I didn't receive anything. But hey, I'm only a farang.😳

[khunjeff]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

My thoughts exactly... that earthquake like most are unpredictable.

What would the emergency message say?

"What you just felt was an earthquake,take shelter somewhere safe"

 

It doesn't have to be an advance warning to be useful, though of course that would be ideal.

 

The day the earthquake struck, people evacuated their buildings and then had no idea what to do. The government did in fact send out mass SMS messages explaining what had happened and telling people when it was safe to go back inside, but for most people those messages arrived so late as to be useless. (In my case, the SMS came eight hours late.)

 

If they can manage to get the word out to everyone quickly, that could be very helpful. I personally didn't receive anything from this supposedly successful test on either my DTAC or True number, though, so I'm not sure whether their bragging is justified or not.

[818Pilot]

Successful?!

Being a farang I was excluded and my wife, Thai, received it the day after.

 

I love how they always pat themselves on the back even when something doesn't work 🤣 

[soi3eddie]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

This was actually announced last year...  Though I'm not sure why it took so long for trials to be carried out...  20/20 hindsight could offer criticism that it 'could have' been ready for the March 28th quake.... It possibly took time as individual telecoms companies were fighting to get their own versions out.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1321682-thailand-trials-first-mobile-phone-emergency-alert-system/

ough 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331505-true-corporation’s-emergency-alert-system-unveiled/

 

 

As you question, how could it be useful for an earthquake ?

 

There are different types of waves that hit during an earthquake. 

 

P-Waves (Primary Waves)

Fastest (6–8 km/s) / Compressional (push-pull motion)

First to arrive / Least damaging 

 

S-Waves (Secondary Waves)

Slower than P-waves (3.5–4.5 km/s) / Side-to-side or up-down motion / More destructive

 

Surface Waves (Love & Rayleigh)

Slowest (2–4 km/s) / Travel along Earth’s surface / Most damaging

Rolling, rippling, and twisting motion.

 

Given the distance between the epicenter near Mandalay and Bangkok, P-waves would have reached the city in approximately 2.5 to 3 minutes, while S-waves would have arrived around 4.5 to 6 minutes after the earthquake occurred, and Surface Waves approximately 8  minutes.

 

 

Thus: an alert system would give 'some time' for people to get out of 'high risk buildings' - that said, when buildings are built to withstand a quake, escaping the building is not the recommended course of action due to the risk of falling glass etc - apart from one building, all of Bangkoks buildings survived amicably (none collapsed) - thus staying put was the best option, escaping the riskiest.

Written with 20/20 hindsight - as quakes this large are unprecedented in Bangkok and Thailand, no one knew how the buildings in Bangkok might hold up.

 

----------------

 

I was in Japan when an 'Emergency alert' went off - I was in a tall building, the alert went off on my phone and watch (loud buzzing) it worked very well even though I was on a Thai Sim (with roaming) - shortly after the alarm the building swayed - I already knew the magnitude of the quake (from the alert), more importantly I knew was what was going on so didn't feel any concern (I think the quake was about a magnitude 6 on the Richter scale - and I knew buildings in Tokyo are built to handle that)

 

----------------

 

This alert would have greater impact for Tsunami early warning and would obviously need to be tied into Thailands 'Tsunami early warning systems' - the maintenance of which has been criticised in the past - But, the alert could also be tied to earthquake warmings from nearby faults such as The Sunda fault, offshore Ache (north Sumatra), which caused the 2004 Tsunami.

 

Thanks for doing the research and math. Seems it could be a useful system. IF it works and is monitored and activated promptly.

 

[NoDisplayName]

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

What would the emergency message say?

 

"We just had an earf'quack.  If you can read this, you survived."

[scorecard]

45 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

"We just had an earf'quack.  If you can read this, you survived."

Wonder when the tsunami citizens alert was last tested and did it pass the test? 

[watchcat]

15 hours ago, petedk said:

Was this tested nationwide?  I didn't receive anything.

 

Perhaps there wasn't a quake in your area?

[Joseph98765]

On 4/19/2025 at 12:15 PM, soi3eddie said:

How much use could this be? I understand a Tsunami warning as it usually has quite some time before hitting. But, an earthquake? How long was it after the seismic activity in Mandalay, Burma before the shockwaves hit Bangkok? Would there be enough time to even get a warning out?

 

I guess this now is more like.... "Hey! we sent you the message so you can't blame us now..." to wash their hands...nobody has the speed of Superman to get away from an unpredictable 30 sec time reaction earthquake... 

[petedk]

On 4/20/2025 at 2:49 AM, watchcat said:

 

Perhaps there wasn't a quake in your area?

 

The article said it was a "full scale test". Nothing about an earthquake.

 

I remember a few months ago there was a "full scale test" in the UK and as far as I remember, everyone received the message. I d

On 4/19/2025 at 7:53 PM, 818Pilot said:

Successful?!

Being a farang I was excluded and my wife, Thai, received it the day after.

 

I love how they always pat themselves on the back even when something doesn't work 🤣