The Ministry of the Interior (IeM) plans to enhance the early warning system with cell broadcast technology by mid-2025, as confirmed to news agency LETA.
The project is progressing on schedule, with the development, testing, and deployment of the cell broadcast system expected by mid-year. Further details will be provided once the testing phase is completed.
How will the system work?
In 2023, the IeM Information Center signed a contract with SIA “Meditec”, the winner of the procurement tender, to implement cell broadcast technology in Latvia’s emergency alert system.
The new system will integrate with the existing mobile operator infrastructure, allowing notification equipment to receive signals from a central hub and instantly broadcast alerts when necessary.
Emergency alerts will be received on all mobile phones operating on any mobile network generation (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G).
No subscription or special setup will be required—any phone within the broadcast range of a Latvian mobile network will receive the alerts. This includes tourists, foreign workers, students, and visitors in Latvia.
Once the system is live, the public will be informed about compatible mobile devices.
Stronger cybersecurity & instant alerts
The project includes IT infrastructure modernization, with additional servers and technical equipment added to enhance security and reliability. The centralized architecture of the system will strengthen protection against cyberattacks, minimize risks of unauthorized access and prevent unwanted message transmissions
Unlike SMS, early warning alerts will be displayed in a special format with a unique sound signal and cannot be modified or forwarded. They will function as a standalone system, separate from SMS, emails, and social media notifications.
After the system is introduced, example alerts will be published, and a public awareness campaign will be launched to help people recognize these messages.
Funding & Project Delays
The total project budget is 3.2 million euros, of which 2.7 million is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and remaining 500 000 euros is state funded.
Initially, the system was scheduled to launch in late 2024, but implementation delays have pushed the timeline forward.
According to Firmas.lv, Meditec had a turnover of 4.725 million euros in 2023, while its profit was 508 019 euros. Meditec was registered in 1995 and has a share capital of 2,828 euros. Meditec is owned by Mārtiņš Sils (66.34%) and Māris Zvirgzdiņš (33.66%).
The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers approved the early warning system upgrade in April 2021. However, delays have extended the implementation timeline beyond the originally planned launch in 2024.