Nicosia, Cyprus. The government on Tuesday officially launched a nationwide emergency warning system that can send immediate alerts to mobile phones across the country. Officials said the CY-Alert system is designed to provide clear instructions during crises and will become fully operational by next Tuesday.
System launch
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said the ability to quickly inform citizens and provide instructions can help protect human life and property. He added that the system strengthens trust between the state and the public, increases the sense of security and preparedness, and gives citizens immediate access to reliable information when needed most.
How the system works
The CY-Alert system, presented jointly by the interior ministry and the deputy research ministry, uses Cell Broadcast technology to send notifications directly to mobile devices without requiring internet access or the installation of an application.
According to the government, the alerts will be transmitted directly from mobile phone antennas to compatible devices in a selected geographic area in real time, regardless of network congestion or the number of users receiving the message.
Testing period
The system will be fully operational by next Tuesday, with public test exercises scheduled over the following three weeks. Residents may receive alerts in Greek and English, accompanied by a distinctive sound and strong vibration, and clearly marked as test or exercise messages.
Privacy and access
Deputy Research Minister Nicodimos Damianou said the government’s objective is to ensure immediate and reliable information and crisis management through the effective use of technology.
Officials said notifications will bypass silent and mute settings on mobile devices and will be received regardless of the user’s mobile provider or the country of origin of the SIM card. They also said the system operates with full respect for privacy and that no personal or device-related data will be collected, used or stored.
