Muscat: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has started testing an early warning broadcast service via mobile phones. The experiment, conducted in cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority and communication service providers, will cover several coastal states and regions. The tests will begin in the South Al Batinah Governorate and subsequently move on to other areas, including the Governorates of South Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, Muscat, Dhofar, Al Buraimi, and North Al Batinah.
The early warning service is designed to send warning messages about specific emergency situations to Omantel and Ooredoo mobile phone users in record time. The messages will be in the form of customized ringtones that appear automatically on the phone. Subscribers only need to confirm the receipt of the message by clicking on the link in the warning message content.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has previously conducted an awareness campaign to familiarize the community with the mechanism for activating the early warning broadcast service on mobile phones. This included several radio and press meetings, as well as videos in different languages.
If anyone fails to receive the warning messages during the tests, the authority has provided a link on its Twitter account for notification. The tests are being conducted according to international standards adopted in this regard. The initiative is a major step towards enhancing public safety and preparedness in the face of emergencies.
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