Ministry of Interior conducts test of emergency SMS notification system

The Ministry of Interior in Cyprus initiated a test broadcast of emergency SMS alerts to citizens, scheduled for 19:00. The objective of this trial was to assess the immediacy and effectiveness of public notifications for emergency self-protection measures. Results indicated that while many subscribers received the test message on time, others experienced significant delays, and some citizens reported not receiving the message at all. The Ministry identified that the latency in delivery varied depending on the telecommunications provider. In response, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy has engaged in consultations with these service providers to address and improve delivery speeds. The authorities have confirmed that the measure will be re-evaluated based on these findings. Meanwhile, existing public notification methods remain in effect to ensure communication during emergencies.