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Destroyed bridge in Ahrweiler: The cell phones should be used to warn in the future
Photo: Boris Roessler / dpa
Starting next year, a new mobile phone warning system will ensure that the population can be better informed and deaths avoided in the event of severe storms and other disasters.
The introduction of the system called cell broadcast would be feasible by the end of summer 2022, the network operator Vodafone announced on request.
Such a system makes it possible to send messages to all cell phones that are registered in certain radio cells.
The general functionality is comparable to radio broadcasts, hence the term cell broadcast.
In contrast to other warning systems such as Nina or Katwarn, you don't need an app to be alerted via this system.
Fear of manipulation
In response to the violent storms in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in July with numerous deaths and severe devastation, the Federal Cabinet launched a new aid fund as well as the introduction of the new mobile radio warning system last week.
The project should come to the Bundestag on Wednesday.
As a further step, the Federal Network Agency is preparing a guideline with technical requirements.
We are still waiting for these technical specifications, said a Vodafone spokesman.
The introduction of the new system is not a simple matter, rather a complete technical system has to be ordered from the network manufacturers and implemented in cellular networks and by authorities.
"We are already in dialogue with the German authorities on detailed issues such as technical implementation options, legal framework, data protection, security requirements for systems, processes and interfaces." Protection against hackers is very important.
The federal government pays
Once the authorities have finished with their specifications, the network operators get down to the implementation - according to a Telefónica spokesman, this will take several months.
According to Telefónica, the costs for the introduction are estimated at a total of 40 million euros for all operators.
In addition, there are operating costs of one million euros per network operator and per year.
The federal government bears the costs.
The network operators see the new system positively.
The Vodafone spokesman, however, classified its importance somewhat: "It is not the panacea, but another important component for the targeted warning of all German citizens in emergencies," he said.
The warnings via radio, television and apps remained very important.
"But it is good that Germany is now also relying on cell broadcast." In Italy and Great Britain, Vodafone has already introduced additional warning systems based on cell broadcast technology and has had positive experiences - everything went smoothly there.
mak / dpa
