I did not receive the 15:00 UK Emergency Alert System broadcast

[rokejulianlockhart]

Diagnosis

I’ve confirmed I haven’t:

1. #!/system/bin/sh
   cmd activity start --user 0 -a android.intent.action.VIEW -n com.google.android.cellbroadcastreceiver/com.android.cellbroadcastreceiver.CellBroadcastListActivity -f 0 com.google.android.cellbroadcastreceiver
   

2. 

The undermentioned returned nothing:

#!/system/bin/sh
dumpsys notification --noredact | grep 'This is a test'

I’m using Hutchison 3G UK Limited’s “SMARTY” carrier. However, as is my mother, who did receive the alert:

Has anyone else? If so, I’ll contact my carrier.

Context

UK Emergency Alert System

[aspergerguy]

For context what type of phone is your mother using? Last time this was tested in UK this carrier had some issues which presumably have been addressed.

[rokejulianlockhart]

@aspergerguy

For context what type of phone is your mother using?

1. #!/bin/sh
   uname -a
   

2. Darwin localhost 24.6.0 Darwin Kernel Version 24.6.0: Tue Jul 15 21:53:53 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.140.69~16/RELEASE_ARM64_T8120 iPhone15,5

1. #!/bin/sh
   ufetch
   

2.           _
            (/     mobile@localhost
       .---__--.   OS:        iPhone OS 18.6.2
      /         \  KERNEL:    Darwin 24.6.0
     |         /   UPTIME:    12 days
     |         \_  PACKAGES:  1
      \         /  SHELL:     sh
       `._.-._.`   DE:        SpringBoard
   

^[1]

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1. github.com/holzschu/a-shell/discussions/942#discussioncomment-14333066 ↩︎

[urs_lesse]

There’s also some first feedback over at /e/

UK Emergency Smartphone Alert

[yvmuell]

Wondering how its sent/working I think to make it work here in germany a setting had to be enabled? So did you allow emergency notifications?

[rokejulianlockhart]

@yvmuell

Did you allow emergency notifications?

@yvmuell, it can be disabled, but it wasn’t:

1. #!/system/bin/sh
   cmd activity start --user 0 -a android.intent.action.VIEW -n com.google.android.cellbroadcastreceiver/com.android.cellbroadcastreceiver.CellBroadcastSettings -f 0 com.google.android.cellbroadcastreceiver
   

2. 

[rokejulianlockhart]

Thanks to /4, I can be confident that the device and (and, likely, AOSP distribution) support it (since if /e/OS does, FPOS shall). In that case, because gov.uk/government/news/emergency-alert-test-frequently-asked-questions states:

Emergency Alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK. Your mobile phone or tablet does not have to be connected to mobile data or wifi to get alerts.

However, you will not receive alerts if your device is: turned off; connected to a 2G or 3G network; wifi only; or not compatible.

…and adb shell dumpsys connectivity | grep -o 'MOBILE\[[^]]*\]' ^[1] returns:

MOBILE[HSPA]
MOBILE[IWLAN]

…I was, likely, merely (unluckily) connected to UMTS (a 3G protocol), whereas hers was likely connected to a 4G protocol (probably LTE).

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1. chatgpt.com/share/68bda2b1-0a70-8006-a0b3-5a1c33f46a77 ^[2] ↩︎

2. chatgpt.com/c/68bda08c-4124-8320-9b2c-74b3003c8a16 ↩︎

[ashsykes]

I can confirm I received today’s alert. I’m with ID mobile

[yvmuell]

Just for reference your old topic

I didn't receive the UK emergency service broadcast

Per everything have been enabled. Has this been your experience with this device, or was it the fault of my carrier, SMARTY?

And the solution

I didn't receive the UK emergency service broadcast

Smarty says on their website: You will not receive alerts if your device is: turned off or in airplane mode connected to a 2G or 3G network Wi-Fi only Also they state the following: 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.

so it seems its still the same. In Germany you get the alert also when you are connected to wifi, just not when its turned off

[rokejulianlockhart]

@yvmuell

its still the same

Previously, @yvmuell, SMARTY failed to broadcast the notification. It was why, last time, my mother’s iPhone 15 didn’t receive it. This time, the cause must differ.

I’ve contacted them to confirm, and shall provide the response, if it’s useful. ^[1]

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1. meta.stackexchange.com/revisions/412516/2 ↩︎

[ArtureLeCoiffeur]

Yesterday, I checked when the Emergency Alert test is scheduled in Germany. I found out that my town is not participating, as are many others. At least in Germany, the test is seemingly restricted to save power (ahem). Maybe the UK is doing a something like that.

[rokejulianlockhart]

@ArtureLeCoiffeur, DEU is a Bundesrepublik, whereas GBR is a unitary nation. ^[1] Consequently, its constituent countries (WLS, ENG, NIR, and SCT) are unable to not participate, much less (NFK) councils.

---

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state#cite_ref-9 ↩︎

[JulianR]

I notice a difference between your settings and mine: under Alert reminder I have the value “Once”, you have the value “Never”. I received the alert (FP4/ FPOS/ MVNO spusu/ Carrier EE). What does your mum have under Alert reminder?

Tap on Alert reminder to change the value.

As to your probable cause (connected to 3G) Smarty already turned off most of their 3G, with the last 3G to be disabled in November 2025, so you would be rather unlucky to have been connected to 3G at the time the alert was sent.

[rokejulianlockhart]

@JulianR

I notice a difference between your settings and mine: under Alert reminder I have the value “Once”, you have the value “Never”. I received the alert (FP4/ FPOS/ MVNO spusu/ Carrier EE). What does your mum have under Alert reminder?

@JulianR, I’d be mighty confused if that preference somehow determined this:

@JulianR

As to your probable cause (connected to 3G) Smarty already turned off most of their 3G, with the last 3G to be disabled in November 2025, so you would be rather unlucky to have been connected to 3G at the time the alert was sent.

I’ve solely UMTS where I live. All nearby LTE coverage surrounds my village, but doesn’t cover it; we need a mast of our own. I’ll petition my MP based upon the outcome of this.

[aylicarper]

I received it. On O2 but was connected on WiFi at home at the time. (FP5)