Technical Directive for public warnings using mobile networks published
Jochen Homann: "Go-ahead for introduction of new warning system for civil protection"
Year of issue 2022
Date of issue 2022.02.23
The Bundesnetzagentur has today published the Technical Directive DE-Alert, which sets out the technical details so that mobile communication networks can in future also be used to warn the population in the event of disasters or major accidents.
"The publication of the Directive has removed the last hurdle to introducing this new warning system in Germany. The mobile network operators now have a framework for the technical implementation of DE-Alert"
, said Jochen Homann, Bundesnetzagentur President.
Following a public consultation on the draft Directive and intensive discussions with all stakeholders, the Bundesnetzagentur has set the technical conditions to enable mobile network operators to put the legal requirements into practice and improve civil protection with a new warning system.
DE-Alert will use the Cell Broadcast service set up in the mobile networks. This will allow warnings transmitted by the existing national modular warning system (MoWaS) to also be sent using mobile networks. DE-Alert will thus constitute a further means of warning the population in addition to the existing sirens, broadcasting and apps.
Background
The legal basis for the new warning system was created in section 164a of the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) and the Mobile Telecommunications Warning Ordinance (MWV), which has been in force since December 2021. The Bundesnetzagentur's Technical Directive envisaged in these specifies the technical details for the transmission of warnings and the cooperation of the mobile networks with MoWaS. MoWas is managed by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) and used by the competent authorities, primarily those of the federal states, to give warnings.
The final version of the Technical Directive and further information may be found on the Bundesnetzagentur website at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/tr-de-alert.