In addition to sounding the country’s network of warning sirens, authorities will also trigger a cell broadcast alert – a loud notification sent to mobile phones – at around 11am. This is part of a wider effort to test and improve the country’s alert infrastructure.
If this sounds familiar, it is because a similar test took place last autumn and caught many people off guard due to the volume of the alert.
The test will only reach mobile devices where the cell broadcast feature is enabled. The government notes that this function is typically switched off by default, so those wishing to receive the alert must manually enable it in their phone’s settings.
Here’s how to check or change the settings:
Everyone who opts in is encouraged to let people around them know in advance, especially since the alert is accompanied by a loud tone that might be startling to others nearby.
The test alert will also appear via the LU-Alert app, offering an additional notification channel for those who have installed it.
