The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare amendments to the Act on Emergency Warnings to introduce a cell broadcast public warning system in Finland.
The project is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government, which states that the emergency warning system will be reformed. Appropriations for developing emergency warnings were earmarked in the second supplementary budget for 2025.
Cell broadcast to reinforce Finland's multi-channel emergency warning system
Based on both past experiences and various studies, the changed security situation has revealed a need to improve the ability to reach the population through mobile warnings and speed up the delivery times of warnings, especially in emergency conditions.
The cell broadcast service (CBS) will complement Finland's existing emergency warning channels. The system enables the transmission of rapid, prompt and geographically targeted emergency warnings to the users' devices across all mobile operators in the affected area.
The project will prepare the legislative amendments to the Act on Emergency Warnings that are needed to introduce a cell broadcast public warning system. The CBS will be added to the Act as one of the warning methods. The project may also make other necessary amendments to the Act.
The government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament during the 2026 spring session. The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 November 2026.
