Thailand will conduct its first nationwide test of the Cell Broadcast emergency alert system on May 2, 7, and 13, 2025. The initiative, led by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), aims to assess the system’s effectiveness in delivering rapid warnings to the public during emergencies.
The DDPM announced the test plan during a press conference held on April 23, 2025, in Bangkok. The trial will take place in selected locations across the country and is part of a broader effort to modernize Thailand’s disaster alert infrastructure. The goal is to evaluate how the system performs and refine the operating procedures involved in its implementation.
Cell Broadcast technology allows emergency messages to be sent directly to mobile phones within targeted geographic areas, offering faster and more precise communication than traditional methods. However, the system is currently compatible only with 4G and 5G smartphones running Android 11 or higher, or iPhones updated to iOS 18. To bridge this gap, authorities will continue to use SMS alerts for devices that do not support Cell Broadcast.
Testing will occur in three phases:
- On May 2, the system will be tested inside government buildings in Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Songkhla, and the Government Complex in Bangkok.
- On May 7, urban areas including Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and Bangkok’s Din Daeng district will be covered.
- The final phase on May 13 will expand to cover five entire provinces: Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok.
Officials emphasize that residents should not panic upon hearing the alert signals, as these are tests designed to improve emergency response mechanisms. The system is expected to significantly enhance communication during natural disasters or other emergencies by ensuring timely and comprehensive warnings.
The government has partnered with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Public Relations Department, and mobile network providers AIS, True, and NT to implement the system. At the press event, DDPM Director-General Phasakorn Boonyalak confirmed that all participating agencies are committed to delivering a more effective and inclusive alert system.
