The first large-scale test of the EE-ALARM public warning system identified several technical shortcomings, which the government has already begun addressing. The aim is to test both individual components and the entire system again this autumn.
The public test, held on 14 May, provided valuable insights into the system and helped identify issues that likely would not have been discovered in a smaller-scale trial.
The main problems were related to the partial activation of the siren network. Initial diagnostics show that activation signals were received by 84 siren units. As of now, it is known that 70 sirens activated either on time or with a delay. An analysis conducted in cooperation with the manufacturer revealed both hardware and software issues.
Siim Türnpuu, Deputy Head of Business Services at the Information and Communication Technology Centre (SMIT), noted that problems occurred with the sirens' chips, batteries, and software configurations. Improvements and upgrades to the siren network are already underway.
“Out of 121 siren units, 47 failed to receive the activation signal due to faulty control modules. The issues stemmed from defective chips, linked to the global chip supply and quality problems experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. All control modules are currently being replaced — the work will be completed by August and is being carried out at the manufacturer’s expense. Some of the siren unit batteries will also be replaced,” explained Türnpuu.
“These lessons have shown that carrying out a wide-scale activation was essential for identifying technical faults. Only testing on this scale allows us to ensure that the siren network will function properly,” he added, underlining the importance of continued testing.
Language-preference SMS feature saved hundreds of thousands
During the public warning test, the government also tested for the first time a location-based SMS alert that takes people’s language preference into account. A total of nearly 5 million SMS messages were sent to 1.5 million recipients — once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Without this recently developed solution, informing the same number of people would have required sending nearly 25 million messages — costing almost half a million euros instead of the 90,000 euros spent.
According to Kadi Luht-Kallas, adviser at the Ministry of the Interior and project lead for language preference, these location-based SMS alerts are primarily intended for notifying people about regional emergencies. They are not designed for immediate nationwide alerts to a large number of people, but are well-suited for sharing behaviour guidelines in longer-term crises.
“The test of the language preference functionality was a success. However, considering the current security situation, we see that in addition to SMS alerts, we need an alternative, faster solution. We are currently seeking funding to implement a mobile network-based Cell Broadcast system — a method already in use in countries like Ukraine, Norway, and France. At the same time, we are working on future technologies, such as pocket siren systems based on broadcast and satellite networks, to ensure the continuity of the system through alternative communication networks,” said Luht-Kallas.
Cell Broadcast technology allows public warning alerts to be sent to smartphones within seconds, including the ability to override silent mode if necessary. No app installation is required by the user.
The government will continue system improvement and development work throughout the summer. Further testing is essential — both of the overall system and its individual components. The next full-scale public warning system EE-ALARM test is scheduled to take place later this year, likely in autumn.
