NBTC disaster alert system: No more SMS alerts

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) alongside Advanced Info Services Plc (AIS) has pioneered a mobile phone broadcasting service primed to forewarn citizens of imminent natural disasters.

At a joint press conference, NBTC chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck and Varunthep Watcharaphon, AIS’s chief of business relations, unveiled the successful trial of this innovative broadcasting service.

Funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund and in collaboration with pertinent government bodies such as the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, the Royal Thai Police, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the service aims to transcend conventional SMS alerts.

Sarana elucidated that this cellular broadcast service operates without necessitating phone numbers, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Varunthep affirmed that the service adheres to global standards of disaster management.

Deploying pop-up notifications in near real-time, the system targets all mobile phones within disaster zones. Varunthep attested to the technology’s efficacy following successful testing. The infrastructure comprises government command centres and cellular broadcasting hubs established by mobile operators, reported The Nation.

The government is poised to establish entities tasked with composing crucial messages for broadcast, ensuring swift dissemination of vital information.

In related news, statistics disclosed to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) revealed that over half of those owning over 100 SIM cards in Thailand have reportedly registered themselves with operator AIS.

Amid a crackdown initiated by the NBTC in December to curb potential misuse, February 14 marked the deadline for individuals holding more than six SIM cards to authenticate their identities and provide usage details to service providers.

In other news, a plea for responsible broadcasting has been made by General Sittichai Makkunchorn, the spokesperson for the Chairperson of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

This appeal comes following public outcry over media exposure of violent content, the most recent instance being the wide circulation of a domestic violence case where a man took his wife’s life. This controversy has brought the ethical implications of broadcasting such material to the forefront of public discourse.