Alerting the population: Federal Council expands digital channels

Informing, warning and alerting the population is one of the most important tasks of civil protection. The cantonal police forces and other cantonal and federal authorities use various channels operated by the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) for this purpose. Forward-looking decisions are pending for various of these systems. New technologies and the changing media behavior of the population are challenging the effectiveness of existing instruments and at the same time opening up new possibilities for transmitting information, warnings and alerts.

Focus on digital channels

The Federal Council has held a discussion on the strategy drawn up by the DDPS on the future use of various channels. The introduction of cell phone alerting (cell broadcast) is intended to significantly improve the alerting and warning of the population. With cell broadcasting, all cell phones in an affected area can be reached directly with short text messages. The app, which is currently used by around 2.2 million people, and the Alertswiss website are also to be continuously developed. Among other things, further development will focus on accessibility and the availability of important information on smartphones without a network connection.

All messages should also be offered in standardized, machine-readable message formats so that third-party providers can integrate them into their own applications (such as vehicle operating systems). By improving the digital information, warning and alerting channels, the Federal Council is taking account of the technical possibilities and the widespread use of smartphones in everyday life.

Future involvement of the cantons in the operation and maintenance of sirens

Sirens will remain an important part of the future channel mix as a means of raising the alarm in all situations. They have a high level of reliability. The sirens are decentralized in the cantons. They were installed until 2021 and will continue to be maintained by the cantons for a transitional period. The Federal Council has now instructed the DDPS, in consultation with the cantons, to examine the future distribution of responsibilities (including financing) in the area of sirens. Any necessary adjustments to the legal basis are to be made as part of the consultation draft on the multi-channel strategy.

Radio and emergency meeting points as important redundancy

Like the sirens, radio messages that must be broadcast should also be retained. They are an important means of keeping people informed, particularly in cases where the mobile phone network is not available or the power fails. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) is connected to the FOCP's redundant deployment systems. Since 2023, the FOCP has also been operating a system to transmit messages to private radio providers. Emergency meeting points are another tool that has now been introduced in most cantons to inform the local population in the event of a disaster.

The emergency radio is to be discontinued. This VHF-based system, which is expensive to maintain, enables radio reception in shelters. However, due to the expected scenarios, this reception is less important than the rapid provision of information outside the shelters. Even in war scenarios, the FOCP assumes that short, rapid stays in the shelter are more likely than a continuous stay in the shelter over weeks or months.

For the implementation of the multi-channel strategy, the Federal Office of Communications and the federal natural hazards offices, for example, are to be involved in addition to offices within the DDPS.

Additional costs 2027 to 2035

Additional funds of around CHF 213 million will be required between 2027 and 2035 for the further development of information, warning and alerting instruments. The Federal Council has instructed the DDPS (FOCP) to prepare a corresponding consultation draft for the implementation of this multi-channel strategy in the first half of 2025.

Source: FOCP