The History of Earthquake Alerts in Mobile Phones
In 2024, the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) announced that all mobile phones, regardless of the company they belonged to, would emit an earthquake warning to take necessary safety measures. However, no action was taken in September 2024 as expected during the national drill. The situation changed for the 2025 drills (April and September), with mobile users reporting that their devices did inform them about an ongoing earthquake simulation.
The New Earthquake Alert in Mobile Phones Sounds and Startles
As of 2026, the situation evolved. On January 2nd, a thunderous alert awakened millions of Mexicans, successfully warning them about a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in central Mexico. The typical Mexican response to taking risk humorously, especially without any tragedy, was quick. Social media was filled with memes and criticisms, though the former outweighed the latter.
Fourteen days later, on the night of January 16th, mobile devices vibrated and rumbled due to an ongoing earthquake, but fortunately, it was unnoticeable. Although the sound again fulfilled its purpose of warning the Mexican population, it also caused more confusion and annoyance among users.
Among the main criticisms, one was that the cellular alerting system displayed a message stating “Presidential Alert,” causing the population to confuse whether it was an earthquake or another risk situation.
Sheinbaum Announces Update to Earthquake Alerts in Mobile Phones
Following the events of January 16th, President Claudia Sheinbaum requested an update to the text accompanying earthquake alerts on mobile phones hours later.
During her morning press conference, she explained that a civil protection system designed to warn the population about an ongoing earthquake is what alerts, not originating from the Presidency of the Republic.
She instructed her team to review the matter and adjust the message through the relevant regulatory instances without interfering with the system’s technical operation.
What Changes are Being Prepared for Cellular Earthquake Alerts?
Four days after the instruction, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) announced on social media that “each mobile device manufacturer sets a predetermined emergency message. This is the case for the legend ‘Presidential Alert,’ as defined by a manufacturer.”
In line with President Sheinbaum’s instruction, the CRT informed that they are working on guidelines to ensure all telephony companies and manufacturers display the same message in upcoming weeks, eliminating the “Presidential Alert” legend.
How do Earthquake Alerts Work on Mobile Phones?
According to the Mexican government, earthquake alerts reaching mobile phones are part of a simultaneous mass dissemination system. These alerts will be sent even if the phone is locked or on silent mode.
The alert, designed to immediately capture the user’s attention, activates automatically when seismic sensors detect movement exceeding certain thresholds set by civil protection authorities.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current issue with earthquake alerts on mobile phones in Mexico? The recent alert caused confusion as it displayed “Presidential Alert,” leading users to question whether it was an earthquake warning or another risk situation.
- What changes are being implemented by Mexican authorities? The text accompanying earthquake alerts on mobile phones will be updated to avoid confusion. All telephony companies and manufacturers will display the same message in the future.
- How do earthquake alerts function on mobile phones? These alerts are part of a simultaneous mass dissemination system activated by seismic sensors detecting movements above specific thresholds set by civil protection authorities.
