THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, APRIL 29, 2026

In a major step towards strengthening India's disaster preparedness and public safety infrastructure, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is conducting pan-India testing of an indigenous Cell Broadcast (CB) system designed for the rapid dissemination of emergency alerts.

NDMA has already successfully operationalised the Integrated Alert System, SACHET, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D institution of the Department of Telecommunications. Built on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union, the system is currently functional across all 36 States and Union Territories.

At present, SACHET delivers disaster and emergency alerts through SMS to mobile users in geo-targeted areas. The platform has been extensively used by disaster management authorities, facilitating the transmission of more than 134 billion SMS alerts in over 19 Indian languages during cyclones, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

To further enhance emergency communication during highly time-sensitive situations such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, gas leaks, chemical hazards, and other man-made disasters, Cell Broadcast technology is now being introduced alongside the existing SMS-based alert system.

Unlike conventional SMS, Cell Broadcast enables simultaneous transmission of alerts to all mobile devices within a designated geographical area, ensuring near real-time delivery without network congestion. This makes it particularly effective during large-scale emergencies when every second counts.

C-DOT has been entrusted with the indigenous development and nationwide implementation of this advanced public emergency alert system.

As part of the nationwide rollout, extensive testing and trials are currently underway to evaluate the system's performance, reliability, and readiness before its formal launch and dedication to the nation. During this testing phase, citizens may receive test alerts in English, Hindi, and various regional languages on their mobile phones.

These messages will be received only on devices with Cell Broadcast test channels enabled. Users can manage these settings through the menu path: Settings → Safety & Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → Test Alerts.

Recipients may receive multiple test messages during the trial period as part of efforts to ensure seamless functioning across India's diverse mobile network infrastructure.

Authorities have clarified that these are routine test messages and do not require any action from the public. The exercise is aimed solely at validating the system and reinforcing India's capability to deliver life-saving information swiftly during emergencies.