‘Too many mobile phones’ for tsunami SMS warning system

PHUKET CITY: -- Ministers and high-ranking officials are able receive a tsunami warning SMS from the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) but other mobile phone users are not yet able to receive messages because of delays.

Dr Smith Thammasaroj, appointed to establish the NDWC, made his comments at a recent seminar held at the Phuket Royal City Hotel.

The seminar was attended by about 100 people from members of government agencies and telecommunications organizations from the six Thai provinces affected by the December 26 tsunami.

Dr Smith told the Gazette “The warning system is not totally ready. At the moment ministers and governors in the six provinces are able to receive messages from the NDWC. But for ‘normal’ mobile phone users the overall system is not ready.”

He added that there are too many mobile phone users in Thailand for the warning system to cover them, before saying that the SMS system will be completed “ … not later than the middle of next year”.

Dr Smith added that the Cabinet has already approved a budget of 150 million baht for the NDWC to install three warning buoys in the Andaman Sea.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-09-24

Only the government ministers are able to receive a warning SMS? On the entire network?

Well it sure seems they can send spam SMS's in Thai without me signing up for anything multiple times a day..

Perhaps if something was for sale or they thought I would download a ringtone or Tata Young wallpaper then suddenly it would all come into focus..

PHUKET CITY: -- Ministers and high-ranking officials are able receive a tsunami warning SMS from the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) but other mobile phone users are not yet able to receive messages because of delays.

...

Dr Smith added that the Cabinet has already approved a budget of 150 million baht for the NDWC to install three warning buoys in the Andaman Sea.

Rest assured that with the proper amount of government budget applied to this SMS problem, all will be well in short order.

PHUKET CITY: -- Ministers and high-ranking officials are able receive a tsunami warning SMS from the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) but other mobile phone users are not yet able to receive messages because of delays.

...

Dr Smith added that the Cabinet has already approved a budget of 150 million baht for the NDWC to install three warning buoys in the Andaman Sea.

Rest assured that with the proper amount of government budget applied to this SMS problem, all will be well in short order.

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You've not been here long, have you?

    Only the government ministers are able to receive a warning SMS? On the entire network? 

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Most important people are safe - why worry?

I thought there was something called "cell broadcast" or the like that would send the same message to all phones instantly. Provided said phones are configured to the right cell broadcast information.

Perhaps the real issue is informing the people in power first so they have time to escape while the roads are clear.......

kenk3z