Telus, Bell, Rogers Inform Customers About Canada’s ‘Alert Ready’ System Coming April 6

Canada is set to implement the upcoming Alert Ready emergency alert system starting April 6, 2018, and leading up to the launch, wireless carriers have started texting customers about the upcoming service.

Bell started texting customers yesterday to say “As of April 6, compatible devices will receive emergency alerts from the government Alert Ready service. Alerts notify you of possible life-threatening situation that need immediate attention. For more info and compatible devices, visit bell.ca/alertready.”

Bell alert ready

Telus started to text customers information too, as today many received messages which noted “As of April 6, 2018, Canada’s alert service will be available to compatible mobile devices. Alert ready will broadcast emergency alerts to inform you of critical or potentially life-threatening situations that require immediate attention to keep you and your family safe. To learn more about the Alert Ready service and what devices are supported, visit telus.com/alertready.”

Telus alert ready

As for Rogers, a company spokesperson told iPhone in Canada they will “begin informing customers this week.”

Rogers provided a list of current compatible devices:

  • Google: Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 Pixel 2XL
  • BlackBerry: DTEK50, Priv, KeyOne
  • LG: Q6, V30
  • Samsung: S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, Note 8, Xcover 4, J3, S9, S9+
  • Sony: Xperia X Performance
  • Huawei: P10, P10 Plus, P10 Lite, Nova Plus, GR5
At the time of the Alert Ready launch, Rogers says these models will be supported:
  • iPhone 5/5s/5c/6/6+/6s/6s+/7/7+/8/8+/X
  • LG G6

According to the AlertReady.ca website, the system “Starting April 6th, in addition to TV and Radio, Alert Ready will be sending life-threatening emergency alerts to cell phones and wireless devices that are compatible with Wireless Public Alerting (WPA).”

Three requirements must be met for your device to receive these alerts:

  1. An LTE-device like a smartphone (LTE is commonly referred to as “4G LTE”)
  2. Wireless public alerting (WPA)-compatible
  3. Connected to an LTE cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued.\

The Alert Ready system, when it expands to wireless devices, will not allow users to opt out, as it’s a government mandated program. The system is geo-targeted and can send wireless alerts to a specific area of LTE coverage.

While alerts may look like text messages, they are not, but will show up on your wireless device in the form of a push notification, sent using Cell Broadcast distribution, which transmits a one-way alert to compatible devices in a specific area.

Last year, on April 6, 2017, the CRTC mandated all wireless carriers in Canada to support the Alert Ready system, and provided a one year window to implement it. Former CRTC Chairman, Jean-Pierre Blais, said at the time, “The National Public Alerting System is vital to Canadians, it has saved countless lives, including those of children through Amber Alerts. Once the system is in place, an even greater number of Canadians will receive alerts on their mobile phones and will be able to take appropriate safety measures.”

Did you receive a text notifying you of the upcoming Alert Ready system?

Thanks Joe, Josh!

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.