Finland will launch a new emergency alert channel in November, according to Keskisuomalainen. The Ministry of the Interior says the FI-Alert system sends danger alerts directly to mobile phones.
FI-Alert uses Cell Broadcast technology and works on 4G and 5G phones without a separate app. Alerts can be sent quickly and geographically limited to phones in the danger area on all mobile operators' networks. The system will be tested nationwide during November.
It will supplement radio, television, Teletext, the 112 Suomi and Yle apps, and the 112.fi and yle.fi websites. Cell Broadcast is in use or under construction in more than 20 European countries.
The reform follows debate in the spring after two drones came down in Southeast Finland. No danger alert was sent, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said afterwards he thought one should have been issued, Iltalehti reported. The Ministry of the Interior said the changed security situation calls for better reach and faster warnings, especially in exceptional conditions.
The Ministry of the Interior will hold a press conference on the system on Wednesday at 11. Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, rescue director general Kimmo Kohvakka, project manager Mikko Jääskeläinen from the ministry's rescue department and Erillisverkot CEO Timo Lehtimäki are set to speak. The ministry has a service agreement with Suomen Erillisverkot.
Foreign visitors in Finland will also receive the alerts on their phones. A new feature in the 112 Suomi app to warn of airborne danger is also part of the reform, with its first phase due by the turn of the year.