True Corporation has announced that it is the first private telecommunications operator in Thailand to complete the nationwide installation of the Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) disaster warning system, well ahead of the original May deadline. Prompted by the recent earthquake and a directive from the Prime Minister, True expedited the installation to ensure readiness in support of national safety efforts.
The CBS system enables rapid dissemination of emergency alerts via 4G and 5G networks, broadcasting messages directly to mobile devices within affected areas. The alerts—delivered as sound and pop-up notifications—can be received even when devices are in sleep or standby mode, and do not require any application download. The system supports five languages: Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
True confirmed that all required CBS functions have now been activated across its entire network, including System & Configuration Management, Message Deployment Function, and Network Management. Once the government issues an official command, True is fully prepared to transmit alerts through the system to users of both True and dtac SIM cards, ensuring timely warnings to help safeguard lives and property.
Mr Chakkrit Urairat, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, True Corporation Plc., stated, “The recent earthquake highlights the vital importance of timely and effective emergency alerts to protect the lives and property of Thai people. True is proud to be the first private operator to complete full CBS integration across all 4G and 5G towers nationwide. This achievement reflects our commitment to public safety and readiness to act without delay.”
The Cell Broadcast Service system is a collaborative initiative led by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), in partnership with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and supported by the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) through the Universal Basic Telecommunications and Social Services Fund (USO).
System tests have been conducted in various areas over the past year, including at True Corporation’s Bangkok headquarters in July, and in Phuket in November—a key disaster-prone and tourist-heavy province.
Under the CBS framework, the DDPM acts as the central command centre, responsible for creating and managing alert content as the Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE). The CBE oversees content creation, approval, and the definition of affected zones.
Telecom operators like True serve as Cell Broadcast Centres (CBCs), broadcasting the approved messages through designated cell towers. As the first operator to complete system-wide readiness, True stands fully equipped to support the government’s disaster response, providing prompt and reliable alerts to all True and dtac customers across the country.
