Phones across Stockholm and Gotland to sound alarm in first SE-Alert test

At 3 p.m. on Monday, mobile phones across Stockholm and Gotland will suddenly sound and vibrate. The test will mark the first public trial of Sweden’s new SE-Alert warning system.

The alert will reach about 2.6 million people in 26 municipalities. First, phones will receive the warning. A few minutes later, they will receive a message saying the danger has passed, bringing the test to an end. People in neighboring counties, including Uppsala, Södermanland and Västmanland, may also receive the message because SE-Alert uses mobile towers rather than exact county boundaries.

“

Will this go smoothly? I’m not entirely sure. We are talking about technology, but that is why we are testing it.

Mikael Frisell, director-general of the Swedish Civil Defence Agency, said preparations had continued for 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. “Will this go smoothly? I’m not entirely sure. We are talking about technology, but that is why we are testing it,” Frisell said.

“

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

Officials have worked to reach different groups through several channels and languages, with particular attention to hospitals, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, organizations supporting people with hearing loss, language communities and women’s shelters. Sweden also consulted neighboring countries, especially Norway, which has used the same system for several years. Norwegian experience suggests the test could generate 75,000 to 90,000 calls, so Sweden has strengthened its answering service to avoid overloading 112.

The phone must be switched on, updated and connected to the mobile network. No app or registration is required, and the alert will sound even if the phone is on silent. SE-Alert complements Sweden’s existing warning channels, including the Hesa Fredrik sirens, public broadcasters and digital services. It can target a specific geographic area and may be used for serious accidents, dangerous releases and threats linked to the wider security situation.

“

We are prepared and feel calm and confident that this will go well on Monday.