MCMC testing new disaster warning system on Nov 19: Here’s why your phone might sound an alarm
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — If your mobile phone suddenly sounds a piercing siren and displays an evacuation order on N...
On November 19, Malaysia’s Cell Broadcast System (CBS) will undergo a pilot test, which may result in your phone sounding a siren and displaying an evacuation order. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is implementing the CBS, an advanced upgrade to modernize public disaster warnings. This test will focus on high-risk flood zones in several states, including Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, and Pahang.
Despite the simulated broadcast containing instructions, it is purely a drill. Many countries, as per UN data, have already adopted mobile-based warning systems for natural disasters. Malaysia aims to replace its outdated alert system with this international standard. Unlike the traditional SMS-based alerts that face delivery inconsistencies and delays, CBS functions like a radio transmission.
It sends a dedicated data packet to every compatible handset within a specific perimeter, bypassing the need for phone numbers or data plans. The system can reach mobile phones even when voice calls and mobile data networks are overwhelmed. However, the overall effectiveness of CBS depends on the functionality of cellular towers.
If natural disasters cause tower failures, the alert might not reach devices in those zones. Thus, MCMC must ensure that alert messages are clear and accessible for people with various impairments.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
