Emergency warnings to be sent to mobile phones from November

Emergency warnings will also be delivered directly to mobile phones through FI-Alert, in addition to the existing channels as the new act in this regard is scheduled to enter into force on November 1.

The government on Thursday sent the bill for approval of the President and the President is expected to approve it on Friday, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

FI-Alert will allow the authorities to send emergency warnings almost instantly to mobile phones in a specific geographical area.

Earlier in August, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to amend sections 5 and 7 of the Act on Emergency Warnings with the provision for introducing new warning channels.

The changed security situation has highlighted the need to further improve the authorities’ ability to reach the public and to make the warning system faster, particularly during emergency conditions.

In future, people will also receive emergency warnings through a cell broadcast system. The new system is called FI-Alert. It will complement Finland’s existing multi-channel public warning system.

Currently, people can receive emergency warnings on smartphones through the 112 Suomi app or the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s Yle app.

Emergency warnings are also broadcast on radio and television, displayed on teletext page 112, and published on the 112.fi and yle.fi websites. In addition, authorities may use public warning sirens to sound the public warning signal.