Forum Discussion

HCarterSmith's avatar
HCarterSmith
SMARTY Pioneer
23-04-2023
Solved

UK government emergency alert

I didn't get any alert today. I've got an S10 with OS 12 for Android. I've got the Emergency Alert Notification switched on in settings so i don't know why I and the rest of my family who also use Smarty, didn't get anything. I was disappointed I didn't recieve a message but also worried for if there is an actual Emergency, I won't know unless other people from other networks inform me.

Network
  • George's avatar
    George
    24-04-2023

    Hi all,

    Following the emergency alerts test on Sunday, we’ve been working with the government and have identified a technical issue that meant some of our customers didn’t receive the alert. This morning (24th of April) our engineers deployed a fix meaning there will be no issue with future alerts.

90 Replies

  • George's avatar
    George
    Team SMARTY
    24-04-2023

    Hi all,

    Following the emergency alerts test on Sunday, we’ve been working with the government and have identified a technical issue that meant some of our customers didn’t receive the alert. This morning (24th of April) our engineers deployed a fix meaning there will be no issue with future alerts.

    • AndrewFo_451523's avatar
      AndrewFo_451523
      SMARTY Pioneer
      24-04-2023

      Hi, will there be a test so we can all see this fix works?

      Many thanks, 

    • AndrewFo_451523's avatar
      AndrewFo_451523
      SMARTY Pioneer
      24-04-2023

      Hi,

      Can you please confirm there will be a test of the fix so we as customers can all know the fix works and our phones are going to receive the alerts?

      Many thanks,

    • JoRo's avatar
      JoRo
      SMARTY Pioneer
      25-04-2023

      Presumably if wi-fi calling is being used the alert will not be received in any event?

  • Shackg's avatar
    Shackg
    SMARTY Pioneer
    20-03-2023

    Will I be able to use all of my phone’s features and services if I do not acknowledge the scheduled emergency alert from the government on 23rd April? Apparently, people receiving the notification MUST accept the download before using their phone’s other features (like calls, texts Etc.). 

    Personally, I’m not comfortable with the government loading software on my phone and choosing whether I’m able to make calls or not based on my compliance to receive notifications about high winds or flooding.

    • WelshPaul's avatar
      WelshPaul
      SMARTY Centurion
      20-03-2023

      You can turn them off on a iPhone. Go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to the very bottom of the list.

    • Mhisani's avatar
      Mhisani
      SMARTY Maverick
      21-03-2023

      Well let's look at some logical points shall we?

      There is no way the gov can possibly have software patches for every type of device and OS  and frankly I'm worried that scammers are going to use scare tactics like this to get malware and so on to peoples devices. Please do NOT download everything. What they mean by MUST ACCEPT is because it's an EMERGENCY alert you must just respond to it on your device. As in dismiss. this isn't gov spying this is to stop you letting that beatboxing cat on tiktok pop up and you don't see the flood alert etc.

       

      The emergency system is used a lot in the USA and iphones and android support those notifications natively. You might get a surprise if you go on holiday and there is a warning. And if you're there the same thing happens. Just acknowledge it which doesn't send or download anything.

       

      Please do NOT download ANYTHING. This is ripe for fraud at the moment.

      If your phone is from the dark ages then it simply won't get the alert.

       

      • Chalkychap's avatar
        Chalkychap
        SMARTY Trendsetter
        21-03-2023

        Yes Mhisani, scammers could use this as an opportunity to trick people. As you say, there is no need to download anything. 

        Most modern mobile handsets have been designed to receive an emergency alert via a cell broadcast, without needing to download or patch anything on the handset. I guess older handsets won't receive the alert.

        These emergency alert messages are just mobile network cell broadcast messages, which are limited to maximum of 1395 characters. A cell broadcast is basically a special type of SMS message. 

         

         

    • KennethM_238739's avatar
      KennethM_238739
      SMARTY Rookie
      23-04-2023

      Apparently it's a problem with the Three network. Loads of people saying online they never received the alert. Myself included.

       

      • AdrianJN's avatar
        AdrianJN
        SMARTY Rookie
        23-04-2023

        Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! Wouldn't give it too much thought HCarterSmith .. can't imagine it will deliver much of anything useful. Definitely not via Three is just the icing on the cake.

  • burnsbonzo's avatar
    burnsbonzo
    SMARTY Rookie
    23-04-2023

    I have an iPhone 6s Plus and did not receive the alert. I was on 4g at the time. Any idea why?

    • Chalkychap's avatar
      Chalkychap
      SMARTY Trendsetter
      24-04-2023

      I guess the initial TEST didn't work as expected for all networks and handsets. 
      Probably be another test in due course, once the relevant parties have figured out why the initial test didn't go according to plan.

       

    • LianneG_1808124's avatar
      LianneG_1808124
      SMARTY Enquirer
      18-05-2023

      Hi if u haven't got them switched on in ur settings then u wont receive any emergency service alerts that's all hope this helps 

  • TiaC's avatar
    TiaC
    SMARTY Enquirer
    23-04-2023

    Neither myself or my husband got one and we are on smarty. 

    • LianneG_1808124's avatar
      LianneG_1808124
      SMARTY Enquirer
      18-05-2023

      All it is that u need to go to ur settings to turn ur emergency services alerts on thats all as me and my partner got them and we are on both different network s hope this helps 

  • JuneKen_1069229's avatar
    JuneKen_1069229
    SMARTY Enquirer
    24-04-2023

    Didn't get the emergency alert . Did any other smarty customers get the emergency alert? 

  • BevPook_1893170's avatar
    BevPook_1893170
    SMARTY Pioneer
    24-04-2023

    It seems a large amount of Smarty and 3 users did not recieve. My mobile is Samsung A12 and I did not recieve it either. Can Smarty explain the reason please.

  • Huaidong's avatar
    Huaidong
    SMARTY Rookie
    24-04-2023

    Almost everybody received the national alert as a test yesterday 23rd April 2023 but not me. Is that because of the network problem from Smarty?

  • JoRo's avatar
    JoRo
    SMARTY Pioneer
    24-04-2023

    I didn't receive the alert. I'm not sure whether this was due to it not being transmitted over the Three network or because I was using wifi calling at the time. 

  • WalterV_1368935's avatar
    WalterV_1368935
    SMARTY Observer
    24-04-2023

    With iphone8 also no emergency alarm. They should repeat the test to see if the changes have worked. 

  • LianneG_1808124's avatar
    LianneG_1808124
    SMARTY Enquirer
    18-05-2023

    Hi everyone is getting theses emergency service alerts if u aint got them switched on then u wont get the alerts 

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      18-05-2023

      Hello LianneG_1808124 Turns out that there was a problem with 3 Network generally as I understand. The alert was not repeated as intended.

      Hope they manage to sort it out before they need to use it for real 😳