Finland to launch new mobile emergency alert system in November

Finland will introduce FI-Alert, a new warning channel that will allow authorities to send emergency warnings directly to mobile phones in November, said Ministry of the Interior in a press release on Wednesday.

Authorities can issue an emergency warning when a situation threatens life or health or could cause major property damage.

Emergency warnings help alert and protect the public effectively during accidents, incidents and emergency conditions.

“It is very important that we will be able to warn the public more quickly, reach more people and target warnings to specific areas. Last year, the Government allocated funding to develop and launch the long-awaited FI-Alert system, and now it is being introduced in Finland,” said Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen in the press release.

FI-Alert uses cell broadcast technology available in mobile networks to send emergency warnings to mobile phones within a specific geographical area.

FI-Alert will work on 4G and 5G mobile phones connected to a mobile network. People will not need to download an app or register for a service to receive warnings.

FI-Alert will not replace existing emergency warning channels. Authorities will continue to issue emergency warnings through radio, television, the 112 Suomi app and websites.