BANGKOK, Thailand – Governor Chadchart Sittipunt led a large-scale test of Thailand’s Cell Broadcast (CB) emergency alert system, aimed at evaluating the readiness of both technology and communication protocols in crisis situations on May 13. The exercise was conducted by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Public Relations Department, and major mobile network operators AIS, TRUE, and NT.
The Bangkok test took place at Nopparat Room, 5th floor of City Hall near the Giant Swing in Phra Nakhon district, with participation from all 50 district offices via an online system. It was part of the third and largest nationwide CB alert test yet, conducted simultaneously in five provinces: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
During the test, residents in the target areas received automated alerts on their mobile phones, consisting of both a notification message and a distinct emergency tone lasting 8–10 seconds. In Bangkok, this alert reached users in all 50 districts.
After the test, Governor Chadchart stated that the trial was successful from a technical standpoint. However, he emphasized that the true challenge lies in content creation. “The technology is ready, but the heart of the system is the message itself—what we send, how we send it, and how people respond,” he said. He highlighted the need for clear, actionable communication, using the recent Lat Krabang warehouse fire as an example. “If we can send targeted alerts by district, we must ensure that they are timely, accurate, and instructive.”
Currently, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration uses its own Line Alert system for certain emergencies, but the Governor expressed interest in integrating CB alerts when appropriate, without delays caused by unclear messaging protocols.
Deputy Governor Assoc. Prof. Tavida Kamolvej, Permanent Secretary Dr. Wantanee Wattana, and other high-level city officials also attended the test. Following this round of trials, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation will conduct a performance evaluation before planning a full national rollout across all 77 provinces. (BMA)
