Millions of Swedes to receive a warning on their phones today

At 3 p.m., phones across Stockholm and Gotland counties will sound in the first test of Sweden’s new SE-Alert warning system. The alert will be followed a few minutes later by a message saying the danger has passed.

The test covers 26 municipalities and about 2.6 million people. Mikael Frisell, director general of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, said preparations had lasted more than a year. Authorities tested the system in controlled environments and worked with SOS Alarm, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority and mobile operators.

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We have worked hard for more than a year.

Officials have also sought to reach the public through different channels and in different languages. They focused particularly on hospitals, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, organizations working with people who are hard of hearing, language groups and women’s shelters.

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We have tried to reach all possible groups and organizations, with a particular focus on hospitals and Arlanda Airport, as well as organizations working with people who are hard of hearing, different language groups and women’s shelters.

For the alert to work, a phone must be switched on, updated and connected to the mobile network. Users do not need to download an app or register their number, and the warning will sound even if the phone is on silent. Phones that are completely switched off or in flight mode will not receive the signal.

The system was developed with the international security situation in mind, but authorities can also use it for serious accidents and hazardous releases. Frisell said its geographic targeting should allow the right information to reach the right place and time without the congestion that can affect text-message systems.

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The advantage of this is that we can target the warning to a geographic location without the system becoming congested as it can with text messages, so that we get the right information out at the right time and place and can save lives.