Cell Broadcast (CB) System

Cell Broadcast (CB) System : Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),has started nationwide testing of a Cell Broadcast (CB) system aimed at delivering real-time disaster alerts to mobile users across India .

• About CB System : It is a technology that allows mobile network operators to send text alerts to all mobile phones within a specific geographic area, regardless of the network congestion.

o It is being indigenously developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).

o Unlike SMS, which is sent individually, CB messages are broadcast simultaneously, ensuring faster delivery—critical during emergencies.

o Purpose : The system aims to deliver real-time alerts for natural and industrial disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning, and chemical leaks.

• How It Enhances Existing Systems: CB technology complements the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), which has already delivered over 6,899 crore SMS alerts in more than 19 Indian languages across all 36 States and Union Territories.

o While SACHET uses the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the CB system offers instant, wide-area communication that is especially useful during network congestion.

• Future Scope: Once fully operational, the CB system will send multi-language alerts to all mobile users, ensuring inclusive and rapid emergency communication across India.