Switzerland’s emergency alert system to “lag behind Europe” until 2029

Switzerland’s national emergency alert system currently falls short when compared to its European neighbours, with a mobile phone emergency alert system only due to be rolled out from 2029.

Switzerland relies on sirens in an emergency

When it comes to alerting residents in Switzerland about a potential national emergency, the country “lags years behind” the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, reports 20 Minuten. 

While the federal government and cantons utilise the roughly 7.200 sirens across the country, Switzerland lacks a mobile phone warning system that many other countries now utilise.

During the recent forest fires in France, for example, residents could be sent a mobile phone push notification urging them to evacuate. This is “currently not possible” in Switzerland. 

Alertswiss only used by 28 percent of Swiss population

Currently, Switzerland relies on sirens, radio broadcasts and the Alertswiss app to notify the public in an emergency. However, only around 28 percent of the population use Alertswiss, around 2,5 million residents. 

Users have to install the app and enable location services to receive notifications. When and if a warning or alert is required, a notification will be sent to mobile phones with the app installed.

Plans are already underway for a new mobile emergency broadcast system (also known as cell broadcast technology) to be rolled out, but this might not be until at least 2029. In the event of an emergency, alerts would be sent to all smartphones connected to mobile towers in the affected area without the need to have an app.

The technology upgrade forms part of the Federal Office for Civil Protection’s (FOCP) “multi-channel strategy” for upgrading the country’s public information, warning and alert system. The Federal Council has approved the proposed introduction, and the plan now sits with Parliament for further approval.

The government estimates the cell broadcast technology could cost around 15,8 million Swiss francs to implement, “due to the extensive technical modifications required,” and would then cost an extra seven million francs a year to operate.