E-ALERT. The emergency alert system has a series of very important changes adopted today by emergency ordinance by the Romanian Government, with the aim of making the system even better. The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) is going to create a procedure through which the types of risk and the level of gravity will be established for the alerts sent through RO-ALERT, plus the structures responsible for sending the messages.
E-ALERT. Moreover, the emergency messages sent through the system will have priority in the mobile networks over the voice and data traffic of the users, the operators being obliged to respect this. Apart from that, in 1 year from now, mobile phones incompatible with the RO-ALERT system will no longer be sold in Romania, so all Romanians will end up having phones that are capable of receiving such alert messages.
RO-ALERT. MAJOR CHANGES Adopted TODAY by the Government of ROMANIA
E-ALERT. Although it was officially launched in 2018, the system was created based on an emergency ordinance that was adopted in 2017, but which did not provide for the conditions under which it can work. RO-ALERT has been operating until now based on a protocol concluded between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and DSU, IGSU, and STS, but this emergency ordinance will allow the establishment of the procedures based on which the entire system will continue to operate in Romania.
"By adopting this legislative measure, the roles and responsibilities of public institutions are regulated, as well as the obligations of private providers of public electronic communications networks in the operation of the RO-ALERT System. The messages sent are of public interest, free of charge and contain recommendations for the adoption of self-protection measures by the people in the area affected by the manifestation of an emergency situation, depending on its nature, being prioritized over the users' voice and data traffic. Within one year from the entry into force of the Emergency Ordinance regarding the operation of the "RO-ALERT" public warning system in emergency situations, it will no longer be possible to sell mobile phones on the territory of Romania, which have not activated the possibility of receiving messages RO-ALERT in all public mobile electronic communications networks."
E-ALERT. At the user level, these changes should not have any negative impact, and this is because they are intended to make its use much simpler and more useful in order to save human lives in emergency situations. Until now there have been some problems related to RO-ALERT in Romania, but it seems that things are starting to go back to normal, and the authorities are starting to find the right methods for it to function properly.
E-ALERT. It is possible that some changes will appear for the emergency alert system in the near future, but we will definitely learn about all of them when they are imposed by the authorities.
