Government puts new Cell Broadcast alert on hold just a month after launch, here is what happened

India has suspended its newly launched Cell Broadcast System from June 12 after issues were flagged by competent authorities.

In Short

• India suspends new disaster alert system
• System was launched in May for real-time disaster alerts
• The emergency warning service is currently under review

India has temporarily suspended its newly launched Cell Broadcast System (CBS), a nationwide emergency alert service designed to warn people during natural disasters and other emergencies. The service, introduced just a month ago, has been put on hold starting June 12. According to an order issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on June 12, the Cell Broadcast service has been suspended due to certain issues flagged by competent authorities. The order does not specify the reason behind the move and states that the service will remain on hold until further instructions.

However, according to a report by The Hindu citing sources, the suspension may have been triggered by a disaster alert that was allegedly sent to the Prime Minister's contact number at midnight.

The alert system is designed to grab immediate attention. It causes phones to emit a loud hooting sound even when they are on silent mode. The last such alerts were reportedly issued on June 12 by disaster management units in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, causing phones to ring around midnight.

What is the Cell Broadcast System?

The Government of India launched the nationwide Cell Broadcast System in May as a major upgrade to the country's disaster warning and emergency communication infrastructure.

The service is widely used across the world to issue real-time alerts during natural disasters, security situations and other emergencies. Unlike traditional SMS alerts, it does not depend on internet connectivity and is less likely to be affected by network congestion during crises.

The system allows authorities to send emergency messages simultaneously to mobile phones in specific geographic areas. According to the Ministry of Communications, the technology enables near real-time, geo-targeted alerts to reach millions of users instantly, ensuring that people in affected regions receive warnings quickly.

Alerts are delivered as priority pop-up notifications on mobile screens and are accompanied by loud alert tones. On supported devices, the messages can also be read aloud, making them accessible to more users.

The test messages are received only on phones that have their Cell Broadcast test channels enabled. Users can enable or disable these alerts by going to Settings > Safety and emergency > Wireless emergency alerts > Test alerts on supported smartphones.

What happens next?

According to the NDMA advisory, the suspension is a precautionary measure and will remain in effect until further notice. Officials said updates regarding the restoration of the service will be communicated later, depending on further directions from the NDMA. The advisory also suggests that technical or procedural reviews may be underway in coordination with relevant agencies.

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