The trial, held at the Chao Fah Meeting Room at Phuket Provincial Hall, was presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong.
Key figures present for the occasion included Nattapol Natthasomboon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and Trairat Viriyasirakul, Acting Secretary-General of the NBTC.
Also present were executives from major mobile network providers: Advanced Wireless Network Co Ltd (a 99.99% owned subsidiary of Advanced Info Service Plc, or ‘AIS), True Move H Universal Communication Co Ltd, and National Telecom Plc.
The Cell Broadcast system, co-developed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, ses the ‘Cell Broadcast Service’ (CBS) in the form of sending advance warning messages in the form of short messages (Short Message Service: SMS) to notify people and tourists in risk areas of danger and emergencies, explained an official report of the event.
“Designed to warn residents and tourists of potential dangers, the system promises to improve safety and response times during emergencies,” Vice Governor Adul said, noting that the initiative marked an essential step in developing an advanced mobile emergency alert system,
“The Cell Broadcast system will enable authorities to send location-specific emergency warnings to residents and tourists in at-risk areas. This service, accessible via Android 11 and iOS 10 or newer smartphones, is designed to ensure timely alerts in cases of natural disasters, accidents or emergencies,” he said.
“Phuket was selected as the first province to test the system, aligning with its status as a high-profile tourist destination,” he added.
The trial simulated various emergency scenarios, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology. Officials highlighted the system’s ability to enhance public safety and foster confidence among residents and visitors, noted the official report of the event.
Vice Governor Adul emphasised the importance of the project, stating, “This initiative showcases the commitment of our government and telecom providers to safeguarding lives. Phuket is proud to be the pioneering province for this trial, which reinforces our image as a leader in disaster preparedness and response.”
Following the successful trial, the system is scheduled to launch in selected areas by the second quarter of 2025, with plans for nationwide expansion.
Efforts are underway to extend coverage to remote regions, ensuring comprehensive protection for all citizens and tourists across Thailand, the official report concluded.
The ‘Cell Broadcast’ system is just part of the ‘disaster warning system’ ordered by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat in the wake of the deadly landslide in Kata in August that killed 13 people.
An official report in early September marked Governor Sophon as saying: “The Department of Mineral Resources has partnered with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to monitor and issue disaster warnings for flash floods and landslides via mobile phone networks, ensuring that information is delivered quickly and efficiently.”
The report today marking the ‘successful trial’ of the ‘Cell Broadcast’ system made no mention of any progress by the Department of Mineral Resources in developing a system to inform the ‘Cell Broadcast’ system of any impending disasters such as landslides.