GSMA Secures $1.2 Mn Funding to Expand Mobile Emergency Alerts in Pacific Islands

The initiative will cover the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. It aims to improve communication during cyclones, floods, tsunamis and other emergencies.

Mobile Technology to Improve Emergency Alerts

The project will use cell-broadcast technology to send emergency warnings to compatible mobile phones in specific geographical areas. Unlike regular SMS messages, cell broadcast can deliver the same alert to multiple devices simultaneously without sending individual messages to each phone.

This technology can help authorities reach people more quickly, particularly when mobile networks experience heavy traffic during emergencies.

GSMA to Work with Regional Partners

The GSMA will lead the cell-broadcast activities under the Pacific Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Communication & Tools Project. It will work with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research through its COMET Program.

The initiative will also involve mobile network operators, regulators and disaster-management authorities. These organisations will coordinate alert approvals, responsibilities and public communication procedures.

The project builds on work started by the GSMA and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association in 2025. Earlier implementation activities included the Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa and Kiribati. Additional countries started implementation work in 2026.

Improving Disaster Preparedness Across the Pacific

The GSMA said mobile emergency alerts will complement existing warning channels, including radio, television and community-based communication systems.

The project aims to improve both technical infrastructure and government procedures so that people receive clear and actionable warnings during emergencies.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation representing the interests of mobile network operators and the wider mobile ecosystem. It works with telecom companies, governments and industry partners on mobile connectivity, digital development and technology initiatives worldwide.

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