Missile Alerts Via SMS
Rani Sneh IDF Spokesperson's Office 09 July 2009 , 10:53
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/07/0901.htm
Code Red (early warning radar system) to your cellular device? This will
become a reality two years from now, according to the plans of the Home
Front Command. For the past year, the IDF Home Front Command has been
working on warning civilians of rocket attacks via cellular devices. The
command's Cellular Broadcasting Technology was already successfully tested
in the nationwide exercise, Turning Point 3, held 6 weeks ago. The warning
will be received as a free text message. "We realize that most of the people
in the country have cellular phones," explains Lt. Col. Uri Perez, Head of
the Teleprocessing and Warning Platoon, when discussing the significance of
cellular technology for distributing warnings in the country. He points out
that today there are more cellular phones than people - nine million phones
to seven million civilians. "The chance to receive a warning is very likely,
and it's a very personal thing that no matter your whereabouts, your
cellular phone is with you - therefore we are moving in this direction."
The Cellular Broadcasting Technology works according to the device's
location. When a warning about a missile attack is received in a certain
area, a warning message will be sent to whoever is in the zone. In this same
manner, we can carry on giving instructions and guidance to the population
after the landing of the missile. The technology exists in the three main
cellular companies, and in most cellular devices. Furthermore, the command
wants to require the importation strictly of cell phones that have this
technology, however according to Lt. Col. Perez, the rate in which most
people upgrade their cellular devices is fast enough, that two years from
now every user will have a compatible device. However the Mirs
Communications Company situation is slightly different, because they work
with the Packet Data V technology, which is an older technology, as opposed
to other companies, where their service is subject to registration and
payment. "Their technology is unique because it was specially developed for
security forces, and we haven't investigated what we will do in this field,"
admits Lt. Col. Perez.
So what needs to happen in order for all of us to receive early warnings
about missile attacks on our cellular phones? Mainly rules and regulation
matters. "One of the first things is regulation. There should be a law of
the Ministry of Communication giving to cellular companies proper guidance,"
explains Lt. Col. Perez. "We began a process; a document came out that was
signed by Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, OC Home Front Command. The document asks the
CEO of the Ministry of Communication to begin working on this. The idea is
for the Ministry of Communication to guide the cellular companies in order
to enable this technology, and it also needs to be officially defined so
that all the companies could work together." Another development required is
that Israel's civilians purchase devices compatible with this technology.
"When I look at the cellular warning system, I can conclude that it is a
very efficient tool," says Lt. Col. Perez. However, "It is meant to be an
addition to the radio and sirens - not a replacement," he emphasizes. His
ambition is for the technology to be implemented in two years, however he
claims that it could happen ever faster: "In the Turning Point 3 exercise,
we proved that the capability exists. My ambition is for the government to
understand that this is an important tool, and that it should apply pressure
on the companies to work on it even faster, in order for it to possibly be
in use a year from now."
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
Rani Sneh IDF Spokesperson's Office 09 July 2009 , 10:53
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/07/0901.htm
Code Red (early warning radar system) to your cellular device? This will
become a reality two years from now, according to the plans of the Home
Front Command. For the past year, the IDF Home Front Command has been
working on warning civilians of rocket attacks via cellular devices. The
command's Cellular Broadcasting Technology was already successfully tested
in the nationwide exercise, Turning Point 3, held 6 weeks ago. The warning
will be received as a free text message. "We realize that most of the people
in the country have cellular phones," explains Lt. Col. Uri Perez, Head of
the Teleprocessing and Warning Platoon, when discussing the significance of
cellular technology for distributing warnings in the country. He points out
that today there are more cellular phones than people - nine million phones
to seven million civilians. "The chance to receive a warning is very likely,
and it's a very personal thing that no matter your whereabouts, your
cellular phone is with you - therefore we are moving in this direction."
The Cellular Broadcasting Technology works according to the device's
location. When a warning about a missile attack is received in a certain
area, a warning message will be sent to whoever is in the zone. In this same
manner, we can carry on giving instructions and guidance to the population
after the landing of the missile. The technology exists in the three main
cellular companies, and in most cellular devices. Furthermore, the command
wants to require the importation strictly of cell phones that have this
technology, however according to Lt. Col. Perez, the rate in which most
people upgrade their cellular devices is fast enough, that two years from
now every user will have a compatible device. However the Mirs
Communications Company situation is slightly different, because they work
with the Packet Data V technology, which is an older technology, as opposed
to other companies, where their service is subject to registration and
payment. "Their technology is unique because it was specially developed for
security forces, and we haven't investigated what we will do in this field,"
admits Lt. Col. Perez.
So what needs to happen in order for all of us to receive early warnings
about missile attacks on our cellular phones? Mainly rules and regulation
matters. "One of the first things is regulation. There should be a law of
the Ministry of Communication giving to cellular companies proper guidance,"
explains Lt. Col. Perez. "We began a process; a document came out that was
signed by Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, OC Home Front Command. The document asks the
CEO of the Ministry of Communication to begin working on this. The idea is
for the Ministry of Communication to guide the cellular companies in order
to enable this technology, and it also needs to be officially defined so
that all the companies could work together." Another development required is
that Israel's civilians purchase devices compatible with this technology.
"When I look at the cellular warning system, I can conclude that it is a
very efficient tool," says Lt. Col. Perez. However, "It is meant to be an
addition to the radio and sirens - not a replacement," he emphasizes. His
ambition is for the technology to be implemented in two years, however he
claims that it could happen ever faster: "In the Turning Point 3 exercise,
we proved that the capability exists. My ambition is for the government to
understand that this is an important tool, and that it should apply pressure
on the companies to work on it even faster, in order for it to possibly be
in use a year from now."
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
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