New UK Emergency Alert test to take place today - but not everyone will get it

Another test of the UK's new Emergency Alerts system will take place today, the government has confirmed. However, not everyone will receive the alert.

The government tested its new system, which works via cell towers, on every mobile phone in the UK in its first nationwide test on Sunday, at 3pm, but the alert appeared not to work on some phones, while others received the message hours after it was sent out.

The test was supposed to send a 10-second alarm and message notification to all 4G and 5G compatible phones, but people on certain networks reported being left out.

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Today, the government has confirmed that another test will take place, but that "most mobile phones and tablets will not get a test alert". It did not release any further information on who will receive the alert.

Today's test notification will say: "This is a mobile network operator test of the UK Emergency Alerts service. You do not need to take any action. To find out more, visit gov.uk/alerts."

The system has been designed to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby. In future, a similarly loud notification and message will be sent to people who are in a life-threatening situation, such as flooding and wildfires.

Following Sunday's nationwide test, the Cabinet Office said the “vast majority of compatible phones” received the alert as part of what was said to be the biggest public communications exercise carried out in the UK. But it added that it was aware that was not delivered to some mobile phones.

Customers on the Three mobile phone network were among those to report not receiving the communication test. The network provider said