No national messaging system for Alfred Cyclone victims | Information age

Parts of Queensland are underwater including Laidley (above) because of the Alfred cyclone. Photo: Daily disaster

The slow rhythm of the Alfred Tropical Cyclone could have given Telcos time and utilities to prepare a response, but while the affected residents deal with climbing floods They have to do without the benefits of a promised emergency alert system running three years back.

This system – a national messenger system (NMS) designed to help state and territory authorities to deliver alerts and warnings directly to the mobile phones of residents in the affected areas – was initially announced in May 2023 and at the end of last year.

NMS would “attract) the technology currently used abroad”, Minister of Communications Michelle Rowland said At that time and “would substantially improve Australia’s ability to send priority warnings from reliable sources” during natural disasters.

However, while Rowland initially promised that the system will be live until the end of 2024, in fact, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has only contracted the system delivery in February – with a fully operational NMS that is not expected by the end of 2027.

Existence Emergency alert System-which uses telco networks to deliver messages that may not always reach-“has always been the main messaging system” for half a year this year The weather season with higher risksaid a nema spokesman Information Age.

The emergency alert “is completed by other sources of information, including applications delivered by state governments, emergency broadcasting and through websites such as (BOM),” added the spokesman, assigning NMS delays to prolonged Telco negotiations.

“The delivery (NMS) is based on all the partners who meet, including telecommunications companies,” they said.

“It took time to work with this with telecommunications suppliers and we are delighted that they have recently signed contracts.”

NMS will allow emergency services to bypass Telco networks and dot-border settings from phones, ensuring the delivery of what Nema describe as “Warning messages targeted” to all mobile phones in a certain area “in real time”, exactly up to 160 meters.

Because his core Cell-Broadcast (CB) Technology sends messages to the phone, rather than on the phone number of its subscriber, the GSMA notes in the industry industry, “does not cause the network congestion and cannot be affected by it”, with millions of messages transmitted in seconds.

Pivot government to a more robust response

The current chronology of nema means that despite fully predictable rotation of floodscycloni, heat waves and bush fires in the middle of a long -term weather perspective called “Unusual” for its intensity, Australia continues to work with years behind the best global practices.

? B technology It is already available in over 20 other countries, with Asian, US, Canadian and South -American telcos that have been adopting it since 2008 and EU Member States that need to have an EU-Alert CB system from June 2022.

French authorities for example, used for the first time The 2023 system to warn almost 2 million residents in the east of the country in this severe.

NMS delays come in the middle of a flurry Government rhetoric on improving the resistance of telecommunications networks during disasters, with mutual assistance arrangements – also instead of over the seas – considered and access to leo satellite followed quickly.

Only three months ago were telecommunications suppliers orderly To keep your clients updated during interruptions, because as ACMA chair, Nerida O’Loughlin saidI am often “not always as receptive with information during a major interruption as it should be. “

Telcos rushed to get before the storm

Even in the continuous absence of NMS, telecommunications operators took advantage of Long warning period Before Alfred’s arrival to put the key repair staff in position and on the web sites and socializing flows with customer tips.

Telstra, for one, PROVIDED Tips to stay connected and prepared Disaster assistance packages while Optus contour His measures to support the Alfred cyclone; NBN Co offered twice a day update While warning users that widespread power interruptions would increase services.

All suppliers distribute emergency generators, with NBN Co by offering Satellite services in case of disaster For the local authorities, the crews to repair the local authorities, because the number of affected properties swelled from 30,000 on Friday to 252,000 to Sunday afternoon.

As utilities creak To restore communication and electricity services Monday, Telstra reported 66 mobile sites She had been restored and 154 remain offline while Optus reported that 144 mobile sites She had been restored And 267 mobile sites remained offline.

Portable cell stations – called Mini cell on wheels (Cows) of telstra and Sattats De Optus – supports emergency workers and residents in the most serious affected areas, based on energy generators until utility crews can restore electricity services.

As Australians are still facing another natural disaster, technologies like Leo Connectivity and NMS have become more and more critical for the response to national disasters, ACCAN CEO, Carol Bennett saidurging governments to embrace the new technologies “as an emergency”.

“The severe events on the East Coast were serious,” she said, “but with the acceleration of climate change, we can expect worse in the coming years.

“Loss of connectivity is a real threat to health and safety, and emerging technologies offer practical solutions to inform Australians when it matters the most.”