Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou has met with telecommunications service providers with whom he examined ways to improve the SMS emergency text that was tested by the Ministry of Interior to all mobile phone users in Cyprus earlier this week for preventive self-protection measures following developments in the Middle East.
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis noted that the Wednesday, 4 March test had been the first time that providers had sent so many messages saying that there are over one million mobile phone users in Cyprus and it was a test to identify the weaknesses. The Spokesman stated that the time of receipt of messages per provider or per user varied and that, after examining the issue, several points have been identified where improvements can be made.
During the meeting of the Deputy Minister with the providers, they examined "several parametres that can be improved" adding that they are already working in an intensive manner to significantly improve the time, so that this measure becomes efficient.
If at any time citizens must be notified immediately "all existing measures will be activated anyway," adding that this measure is also at our disposal and will be activated too.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence Commander Maria Papa said that they are preparing a mass public notification system in case of crisis, adding that it will be completed in early June, so that there is “a perfected system for timely and accurate information.”
Noting that we are at a very good level of readiness, she acknowledged that there are "weaknesses” and said that the SMS alert test would be repeated in the coming days.
(Source: CNA)
