Thailand implements emergency alert system after mall tragedy
A brutal attack in one of the Thai capital's busiest shopping malls that claimed lives has exposed serious shortcomings in promptly informing citizens of the dangers. The tragic incident prompted the deployment of the kingdom's advanced emergency alert infrastructure.
Urgent action after the fatal events
A violent incident involving a fatal shooting at a central shopping mall in Thailand's capital has prompted authorities to take immediate action to set up an emergency alert system for citizens.
On the instructions of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the relevant government agencies have begun to develop and launch such a system, designed to inform the population as quickly as possible about emerging threats in specific areas of the country.
A temporary SMS-based option based on subscribers' location is planned to be introduced within the next month. This will make it possible to promptly notify citizens in the right areas, despite some delay.
Creation of modern notification infrastructure
In the medium term, a full-fledged infrastructure for instant transmission of emergency notifications directly through mobile networks will be implemented. Thus, there will be no need to install additional applications and use the Internet.
According to the head of the National Communications Commission, Tavic Tantornvichai, the system requires a single control center to coordinate the distribution of urgent messages to operators.
The regulator is already preparing the regulatory framework and urges telecommunications companies to equip themselves with the required equipment to implement the alert system without delay.
Support from the largest mobile operator
Advanced Info Service (AIS), one of the leaders in Thailand's telecommunications industry, has confirmed its full readiness to assist government agencies in setting up emergency alert infrastructure.
AIS CEO Apichart Petchez is confident that such a system will strengthen tourists' confidence in the safety of traveling in Thailand. The company will ensure uninterrupted mobile communications and timely delivery of vital messages to subscribers.
Deploying a modern emergency notification infrastructure for citizens is a crucial step to improve safety in Thailand. Even in the first phase, it will be possible to inform people of emerging threats without delay. The success of this initiative will demonstrate the high level of development of communication and alerting systems in the kingdom.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
