Nationwide public warning test on December 10 – sirens will also sound

On Wednesday, December 10, the Estonian Rescue Services Agency, together with its partners, will test the full public warning system, known as EE-ALARM. Between 15:00 and 15:10, the siren network will be activated with the actual warning sound.

Information will also be shared via the Eesti app, the “Ole valmis!” mobile application, and ERR channels. SMS text messages will only be used as a pre-notification for this test. Already in the morning, short messages will be sent to all mobile phones in Estonia, reminding people about the test in the afternoon, and particularly the activation of sirens. 

The main goal of the 10th of December test is to assess the functioning of the siren network. A secondary aim is to identify development needs for the apps and analyse processes related to real-life activation. The test will be carried out in cooperation with the Information System Authority (RIA), the Ministry of the Interior’s IT and Development Centre (SMIT), the Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation (Naiskodukaitse), and the Emergency Response Centre. 

According to Viktor Saaremets, Deputy Director General of the Estonian Rescue Services Agency an important objective of this test is to check improvements made to the siren network and analyse its coverage. “After the spring test, it became clear that the siren network’s control electronics needed extensive replacement, which was carried out at the manufacturer’s expense. In addition, following the spring test, the Rescue Service and SMIT selected the optimal warning sound file during polygon tests, which will now be analysed in a real-life environment on December 10. We need to determine whether the current network requires densification or reorganisation,” Saaremets explained. 

Mait Vaiksaar, Head of SMIT’s Core Services Division, said that during the test, sound pressure measurements will be taken at various locations in four cities, as technical issues in spring prevented sufficient input for assessing siren performance. “In summer and autumn, SMIT, together with the Rescue Service, conducted two technical tests, both of which were successful. Regular testing is essential to keep systems operational and address any issues as soon as they arise.” According to Vaiksaar, the first stage of the siren network was completed in April, just before the test on May 14. Currently, Estonia has 121 siren posts in more than 22 towns and cities. 

The test will also focus on verifying notifications sent via the Eesti app and the “Ole valmis!” mobile application, as well as the reliability of these apps. Technical tests on October 28 and December 4 showed that during a potential crisis, app load could be unexpectedly high. The apps will be triggered silently on users’ phones, and the reliability of background integrations and app performance will be assessed when many people start using them simultaneously. To receive public warnings via mobile apps, the Eesti app and “Ole valmis!” must be downloaded, and notifications enabled. 

Taavi Ploompuu, Deputy Director General of RIA, emphasised that regular testing is crucial to ensure the reliability of the public warning system. “In recent months, we have tested the technical functionality of the Eesti app’s alert feature to identify potential bottlenecks. Nationwide testing of the full system allows us to evaluate how all components work together. During the latest technical test, the alert reached approximately 150,000 app users. To ensure notifications continue to arrive reliably, we recommend regularly updating the Eesti app and checking that notifications are enabled,” Ploompuu said. 

The nationwide test notification will also be broadcast on ERR channels, with ticker text visible on ETV and ETV+ TV channels, ERR.ee, and the ERR news app. 

Unlike the spring test, SMS will be used to ensure as many people as possible are pre-informed about the public warning system test and especially the activation of sirens. SMS messages will be sent to people in Estonia and those arriving here until the end of the test. No new SMS will be sent during the test itself. 

Feedback can be provided on test day via a survey published on kriis.ee. 

Recommendations for the nationwide public warning system test and siren activation: 

• Continue your normal daily activities. 
• Inform your family members in advance, especially children and grandparents, that there is no real danger and this is only a test. 
• Check behavioural guidelines at www.olevalmis.ee, where you can also listen to the actual siren sound used in an emergency. 

Immediate public warning system testing 

Testing the EE-ALARM public warning system is necessary to evaluate real-life improvements, identify weaknesses, and determine development needs. Current EE-ALARM channels include the siren network, app notifications via the Eesti app and “Ole valmis!”, location-based SMS, and ERR channels. 

The Estonian Rescue Service Agency tests different alert channels both individually and as a whole. Large-scale nationwide tests, which include activating sirens with the warning sound, are planned at most once per quarter, and the state will always provide advance notice. Information about the next tests in 2026 will be announced at least one month before the test. 

The immediate public warning system delivers notifications with behavioural instructions when many lives are at risk. Both app notifications and SMS messages will always be sent by EE-ALARM. More information about testing is available at olevalmis.ee or via the national information hotline 1247. 

Cell Broadcast – instant alerts via mobile networks 

Following the spring public warning system test, the state concluded that SMS should be complemented by an instant alert technology that deliverswarnings to smartphones very quickly, even if the app is not installed. In August, the government allocated €3.67 million to develop Cell Broadcast technology by 2027. Unlike SMS, this technology enables mobile network operators to send life-threatening event alerts to smartphones within seconds. 

Cell Broadcast also allows alerts to be prioritised by severity. In cases of extreme danger, information can be sent so that even muted phones will signal with sound, vibration, and light. Such alerts will only be used when lives are at risk – for example, during natural disasters or military attacks. 

The development of Cell Broadcast technology is led by the Estonian Rescue Service Agency in cooperation with the State Communications Foundation (RIKS).