Overview
- The national AusAlert trial on Monday, July 27 sent a 10-second “critical” siren and full-screen test message to compatible phones, tablets and some smartwatches in each state at the scheduled local times.
- The government and NEMA reported the message was broadcast from 94 percent of targeted mobile towers, exceeding the agency’s 90 percent benchmark for the trial.
- Post-test surveys and user reports show a non-trivial minority missed the alert, with one survey finding about one in nine people did not receive the message despite most saying their phones were switched on and connected.
- Officials and telcos will investigate specific causes such as unsupported or out-of-date device software, areas with no mobile coverage, offline towers and delayed deliveries, and they are discussing whether further tests or technical fixes are needed.
- Advocates warned the alert’s ability to override silent and Do Not Disturb modes creates safety risks for people using concealed ‘safe’ phones, and authorities advised those users to power off or use airplane mode around tests while states keep running their own warning systems in parallel.