NL-Alert is a

Cell Broadcast Cell Broadcast (CB) is a method of sending messages to multiple mobile telephone users in a defined area at the same time. It is defined by the ETSI’s GSM committee and 3GPP and is part of the 2G, 3G, 4G LTE (telecommunication) and 5G s ...

alarm system An alarm device is a mechanism that gives an audible, visual or other kind of alarm signal to alert someone to a problem or condition that requires urgent attention. Alphabetical musical instruments Etymology The word ''alarm'' comes from th ...

in use by the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

government to quickly alert and inform citizens of hazardous or crisis situations. Using this system, authorities can send messages to users of

mobile phone A mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, cellphone, handphone, hand phone or pocket phone, sometimes shortened to simply mobile, cell, or just phone, is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link whil ...

s in specific areas by using specific

cell towers A cell site, cell tower, or cellular base station is a cellular-enabled mobile device site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed (typically on a radio mast, tower, or other raised structure) to create a cell, or adjac ...

to alert phones within their reach. NL-Alert is one of the first implementations of the

EU-Alert EU-Alert is the generic term for the European Public Warning Service based upon Cell Broadcast technology. EU-Alert is compatible with Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) formerly known as the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) standard as used in ...

Reverse 1-1-2 Reverse 1-1-2 is a public safety communications technology used by public safety organizations throughout the world to communicate with groups of people in a defined geographic area. Reverse 112 allows authorities to rapidly warn those in danger, ...

legislation as defined by the binding European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) using the

technology for the delivery of public warning messages to the general public.

Usage of the Service

The system was introduced nationally on 8 November 2012, and was first used in a large fire in

Tolbert Tolbert is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Berlinda Tolbert (born 1949), American film and television actress, ''The Jeffersons'' *Caroline Tolbert, American political scientist *Emanuel Tolbert (born 1958), American football ...

on 14 December 2012. The second use was in another fire in

Meppel Meppel (; Drents: ''Möppelt'') is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It constitutes the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe. Meppel is the smallest municipality in Drenthe, with a total area of about 57 km² (22 sq ...

in 2013. NL-Alert has been used more than 200 times as of December 2017 for public warning purposes (e.g. large forest & industrial fires, severe weather conditions and gas leakages).

Background

NL-Alert is an addition to the existing

emergency population warning An emergency population warning is a method whereby local, regional, or national authorities can contact members of the public en masse to warn them of an impending emergency. These warnings may be necessary for a number of reasons, including: * ...

system, which works using a large amount of sirens on masts throughout the country. A key difference between these systems is that users of NL-Alert are not only warned, but also immediately informed about the situation. NL-Alert messages include the location of an incident and advice on bringing oneself to safety. NL-Alert messages have a distinct alarm sound - which stops when the message is seen by the user. Receiving NL-Alert is free. A user does not have to register to receive alerts, but may need to configure a device to receive cell broadcasts. Increasingly, mobile phones are pre-configured by their manufacturers to receive cell broadcasts, including NL-Alert, via 2G, 3G and 4G systems. Cell Broadcast on Android 7

Adoption Rate

NL-Alert has been used in the Netherlands for several years, and every six months a test message is sent which is broadcast throughout the Netherlands. The reach of the Control Cell Broadcast message has increased over the years resulting that in June 2020 more than 13.6 million (90%) citizens of 12 years and older received directly the test warning

message on their mobile phone. There is great willingness to pass on an NL-Alert message to others, from the 10% of people who did not receive the message (e.g. because they do not have a mobile phone), 4% heard it through other people and reaching with this single

message in total 14.2 million people - 94% of the Dutch population of 12 years and older. *7 December 2015 - 7.1 million people of 12 years and older (49%) (full nationwide LTE coverage) *6 June 2016 - 8.3 million people of 12 years and older (57%) *5 December 2016 - 8.8 million people of 12 years and older (60%) *3 July 2017 - 9.2 million people of 12 years and older (63%) *4 December 2017 - 10.8 million people of 12 years and older (74%) *4 June 2018 - 11.3 million people of 12 years and older (76%) *3 December 2018 - 12.43 million people of 12 years and older (83%) *3 June 2019 - 13.18 million people of 12 years and older (88%) *2 December 2019 - 13.7 million people of 12 years and older (90.7%) *8 June 2020 - 14.2 million people of 12 years and older (94% of the population)

Multi Channel Approach

NL-Alert uses Cell Broadcast as the primary channel to issue warnings and alerts. As no channel will suit every situation or every person, multiple channels are used by NL-Alert to make sure as many people as possible receive the information they need. This includes, since December 2018, digital information screens at

public transportation Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typical ...

stops. Additional dissemination channels are expected to be added in the coming period. Alerts and warnings are sent to the new channel both nationally and locally depending on the emergency. *3 December 2018 - 300.000 people aged 12 and over saw the NL-Alert on the digital information screens. *2 December 2019 - 300.000 people aged 12 and over saw the NL-Alert on the digital information screens and 150.000 on digital advertising screens.https://www.en24.news/2019/12/more-than-12-9-million-people-received-nl-alert-control-message-on-mobile-news-item.html

References

{{Cell Broadcast System Emergency management in the Netherlands Emergency population warning systems 2012 establishments in the Netherlands

Usage of the Service

Background

Adoption Rate

Multi Channel Approach

See also

References