Staying Informed in a Crisis
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is implementing SG Alert, a mass emergency alert system for use during emergencies such as major fires, chemical or terror incidents, to quickly alert the public to take immediate action to protect themselves.
SG Alert leverages cell broadcast technology to deliver emergency messages without requiring mobile data or collecting personal information. By enabling alerts to be broadcast islandwide or within specific geographical zones, the system strengthens Singapore's emergency communications framework with secure, fast and reliable mobile outreach.
The system complements existing emergency communications platforms, including the Public Warning System, free-to-air television and radio broadcasts, social media, and the SGSecure mobile application.
Island-wide Public Testing and Phased Operationalisation of SG Alert
SCDF will conduct an island-wide public testing of the SG Alert for SingTel network users on Sunday, 10 May at 12pm to validate the system's performance prior to the phased operationalisation.
The SG Alert will appear as a pop-up notification with the header 'SG Alert', accompanied by a unique alert tone and distinct vibration pattern lasting up to 10 seconds. The SG Alert will also bypass a mobile phone's "do not disturb" or silent mode setting.
During the testing, members of the public, as well as foreign visitors connected to the SingTel network, including those with data-only eSIM plans, will receive the alert on their mobile phones. Users who are subscribed to SingTel hosted mobile virtual network operators (such as Gomo, VIVIFI, Zero1, Zym mobile, etc) will also receive the SG Alert.
SCDF, together with HTX and IMDA, is working with local Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to progressively roll out SG Alert to ensure system readiness and a smooth implementation. SCDF targets to roll out SG Alert to StarHub's network by end-2026, followed by M1's and SIMBA's network by mid-2027.
SG Alert will only be activated during emergencies that require the public to take immediate action to protect themselves. Upon receiving the alert, members of the public should read the message carefully and follow the instructions provided.
What to expect?
SG Alert is designed to provide key information relating to the emergency such as:
- A brief description of the incident
- The affected location(s)
- Protective actions to take
- Official sources and links for more details
Functions
 | Users will receive the alert with SG Alert as the header, followed by the content of the alert.
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 | Some users may receive SG Alert with the header Presidential alert instead of SG Alert due to compatibility issues, for example older phone models. Despite the different header, the content of the alert remains the same. SCDF will be working to regularise the header to SG Alert. |
Key features of SG Alert include:
- High speed delivery: SG Alert can reach the public within seconds by using cell broadcast technology - a mobile technology that sends multiple simultaneous messages via the local mobile cellular networks. As the alerts operate independently of mobile data services, they remain reliable even during periods of network congestion or peak demand.
- Seamless User Experience: The SG Alert system will be enabled on supported mobile phones with the latest operating systems (OS) – users are encouraged to keep their mobile phones updated to the latest OS to ensure uninterrupted access to SG Alert. No mobile application downloads or account registrations are required.
- Bypass phone notification settings: SG Alert will appear as a pop-up notification accompanied by a unique alert tone and distinct vibration pattern lasting up to 10 seconds. The alert will bypass a device’s “Do Not Disturb” or silent mode settings.
- Islandwide or Localised Activation: SCDF can activate SG Alert islandwide or target specific affected areas. Members of the public in Singapore, including foreign visitors connected to Singapore mobile networks (including data only e-sims), within the designated area will receive SG Alert on their mobile phones.
- Support in Four Official Languages: SG Alert will be issued in English and the user’s preferred mobile language setting. Devices set to other languages besides the 4 main languages (English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil) will receive the alert in English, based on users’ mobile phone settings specifically customised in Singapore.
Is SG Alert a new technology?
SG Alert uses the cell broadcast technology that allows messages to be broadcast to all compatible mobile phones based in or entering a designated geographical area through cellular network signal. This technology has been widely implemented in many countries such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea and USA.
Will everyone in Singapore receive the alert? Will visitors or tourists receive SG Alert?
SG Alert messages can be broadcasted islandwide or within specific geographical zones. When fully implemented, everyone in the affected area will receive the SG Alert, so long as their mobile phones are updated to the latest operating system in Singapore. Foreign visitors using mobile phones connected to Singapore mobile networks (including data only e-sims) will also receive SG Alert while they are in the affected area.
Does SG Alert track my location or personal data? Can I opt out of receiving SG Alert?
SG Alert does not collect or track personal data. The SG Alert is a built-in safety feature in mobile phones, designed to deliver important message during emergencies and users cannot unsubscribe from this service.
Will mobile users incur any fees for using SG Alert?
The SG Alert is a free government service and will not incur any fees on top of your respective mobile network subscriptions.
Will I receive the alert if my phone is on silent mode or if I am on a call?
Yes. SG Alert is designed to override silent mode and come with a distinctive alert tone to get your attention during an emergency. During an ongoing call, SG Alert will display a pop-up message that overrides your phone screen so that critical information is not missed.
Do I need mobile data or WiFi connection to receive the “SG Alert”?
Mobile data and internet connection are not required. The “SG Alert” is broadcasted from mobile base stations to mobile phones and you will be able to receive “SG Alert” as long as you are connected to Singapore mobile networks.
If I’m subscribed to one of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), will I be able to receive the SG Alert?
Users who are subscribed to Singtel hosted MVNOs (such as Gomo, VIVIFI, Zero1, Zym mobile, etc) will be able to receive the SG Alert. Other MVNO subscribers will be able to receive SG Alert when their respective Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are onboarded subsequently.
What happens if my phone is not in one of Singapore’s four official languages?
The SG Alert only supports Singapore’s four official languages (English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil). If your default language setting on your devices is not one of the four, you will receive the alert in English.
Why is the implementation of the SG Alert staggered across the telcos?
The rollout happens in phases in order to account for each mobile network’s different technical setup. This allows mobile network performance to be fine-tuned based on the operator’s backend requirements to ensure the most stable experience for users across all the mobile networks.
Will all mobile devices, including older models, be able to receive the alerts? Will messages appear differently across different handsets?
All mobile devices will need to be updated to the latest operating system in Singapore. More specifically, SG Alert is only supported on phones running on the latest Apple operating system (iOS) 26.4, or latest Google Android operating system OS 12 and above, with the latest Google Play system update.
Will my tablets and smart watches receive SG Alert?
The SG Alert is intended for mobile phones. However, some other devices such as tablets and smart watches with cellular connectivity may also receive SG Alert messages.