The UK will conduct another nationwide test of its Emergency Alerts system as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s resilience.
On September 7th at 3pm BST, mobile phones across the UK will emit a loud siren and vibrate for about ten seconds, even when set to silent mode. A message will appear on screens clarifying that it is only a test.
An earlier nationwide test in April 2023 revealed several technical issues. During that test, some users received alerts earlier than scheduled, while others didn’t receive them at all. The government later acknowledged that approximately 7% of compatible devices failed to receive the message, with users on the Three network particularly affected. Some mobile users also reported receiving multiple identical alerts.
Despite these initial challenges, the Emergency Alerts system has been successfully deployed in the UK regionally five times over the past few years during severe weather events and other emergencies like terrorist attacks.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms. Just like the fire alarm in your house, it’s important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.
“This test is part of our action plan to build resilience across the whole country and secure the nation under the Plan for Change – from the £1 billion we’re investing in a new network of National Biosecurity Centres to the £4.2 billion we’re investing to build a new generation of flood defences to protect local communities.”
The government plans to launch a public information campaign ahead of the test, including targeted communications for vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic abuse, and resources in British Sign Language.
Since its introduction, the UK Emergency Alerts system has proven valuable in several critical situations. The largest deployment occurred during Storm Éowyn in January 2025, when approximately 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received alerts following red weather warnings.
Similarly, around 3.5 million residents across Wales and the South West of England received alerts during Storm Darragh in December 2024, a storm that ultimately claimed two lives.
The system has also been used when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Plymouth and during localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
The upcoming emergency alerts test coincides with broader UK Government initiatives to strengthen national resilience. McFadden is set to unveil a new Resilience Action Plan, outlining improved approaches to emergency preparedness and response.
As part of this resilience plan, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is investing £370 million to enhance the security of UK telecoms networks through research and infrastructure improvements.
See also: Virgin Media O2 acquires spectrum to boost UK mobile coverage
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