LU-Alert: New warning channel will be tested on Monday in the canton of Mersch

As part of the test week of the new information and warning system “LU-Alert”, which officially entered the test phase on Thursday, the warning channel “Cell Broadcast” (CB) of the warning system will be tested this Monday morning in the canton of Mersch, as the Ministry of the Interior announced on Sunday . “Cell Broadcast is a new, very intrusive warning channel that has never been used in the Grand Duchy before,” said the Interior Ministry.

The messages are presented in the form of priority notifications that appear on the mobile device screen even when it is muted or locked. The messages are also accompanied by an acoustic signal and a vibration.

After a few seconds, the sound signal stops by itself. The authorities also explain that it can happen that people receive a test warning even though they are not in the canton of Mersch, but in an area close to it. “This is because the mobile device is connected to a cell tower located in the area targeted by the test alert.”

Since last Thursday, all authorities have been using the same electronic platform to send information and warning messages to the population. Mobile network operators are able to forward geolocated SMS messages to all mobile phones located throughout the country or in a specific area, including those of cross-border commuters or tourists.