Abstract
In the scope of the present chapter, the authors evaluate several potential opportunities from the suggested use of cell broadcasting systems in mobile communications and its specific usage mainly in emergency warning facilities, at the global level. Cell Broadcasting (CB) is a cellular-based public notification system, existing in the vast majority of all modern mobile infrastructures, worldwide. It can instantly (within a brief timeframe of some seconds) broadcast a cell phone text alert or message to a large number of people (independently of their network operators) specific to a geographical area, covered either by a single cell or by the entire (regional or national) network. Thus, CB technology enables governmental and other appropriate authorities/entities to securely transmit emergency alerts of natural or manmade disasters to the cellular phones of the subscribers in specific areas. Simultaneously, it can offer multiple extra advantages for further market offerings and development. This chapter discusses the challenge imposed by the fast development of the corresponding cellular facilities and, after providing some fundamental technical informative background, it focuses on the advantages offered due to CB with an overview of the current European and international market. The chapter then analyzes options for further evolution in several sectors (political issues, technical matters, and regulatory perspectives). CB is a strong, viable, and immediate communications solution, which can be put in place to better alert citizens.
TopIntroduction
In modern societies, the assurance of an appropriate level of fundamental communications facilities and/or any other appropriate means towards realizing this aim can be considered as a major duty and a high priority of public authorities in the scope of their activities. The challenge becomes greater for state, regional and local authorities (and for the appropriate response teams) when there is a strong need for immediate, efficient and “wide” warning of (and/or communication with) citizens in emergency cases during times of crisis. Consequently, there is a necessity for developing high quality communication techniques and infrastructures to fulfil this prerequisite.
After numerous recent natural disasters (floods, forest fires, hurricanes (like hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the US and the 2004 tsunami in Asia), earthquakes, landslides, etc.) and several cases of accidents (chemical and industrial accidents, nuclear emergencies, transport accidents, technological disasters, etc.) a lot of effort has been spent on developing ways people could be timely informed in emergency cases. In the same scope, the increased criminal and/or terrorist events in the international scenery have also imposed the necessity for immediate notification/warning of the public in cases of attacks and for civil protection. Specific strategic initiatives have been deployed, worldwide, (for example see: European Commission, 1999) to efficiently deal with various kinds of disasters.
The current effort intends to examine possible benefits, for both users and (market) operators, of mobile networks’ potential usage in emergency situations. The fast deployment of mobile infrastructures (and of related facilities) has been performed at the global level: More specifically, the Western European and some Asian markets have reached a very high level of mobile usage penetration. The same is true for the American market when considering moderate- to high-level spending customers. However, this does not necessarily mean that the growth in number of subscriptions will end, since there is still a large untapped subscriber potential in new markets as well as emerging applications (Ericsson, 2006).
Currently, mobile applications comprise a “basic” feature of our every-day life, in multiple societies. Recent studies have demonstrated that there are more than 2 billion mobile phones in use all over the world, of which 1.5 billion are GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phones, representing the well-known “second generation” mobile system. Due to their extended penetration and under appropriate circumstances, mobile devices could be considered as “proper” means in public warning systems. More specifically, as millions of people (not only in the European Union (EU) but internationally) are existing users of GSM amenities (European Commission, 2001) such systems can provide a remarkable prospect for the growth of civil protection-oriented facilities, dealing with crisis management on hazardous events, and thus providing immediate and reliable notification to the public.
In parallel, we provide some fundamental information about the existing GSM system/infrastructure, while explain how it operates and on how it could be further deployed. Since the main advantage of cellular networks is the provision of ubiquitous connectivity along with the localization and a broadcasting option in their packets, fast and direct warning of people in emergency situations (of various nature) can be achieved.
Cellular communication networks/systems are still developing very rapidly, and apart from their commercial benefits they are able to provide significant advantages to benefit civilians, governments, homeland security and crisis management. These systems can save lives by informing the people located in a certain area immediately. Furthermore they can prevent from accidents, help in traffic problems (e.g. by informing about traffic jams) and be used as a new way of advertisement, promoting new business applications (Watson, 1993; European Commission, 2003).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE): It is a multi-user front-end that allows the definition and control of SMS-CB messages. A CBE can be located at the site of a content provider.
Cell Broadcast Forum (CBF): It is a non-profit Industry Association that supports the world standard for cell broadcast wireless information and telephony services on digital mobile phones and other wireless terminals. Its primary goal is to bring together companies from all segments of the wireless industry value chain to ensure product interoperability and growth of wireless market (http://www.cellbroadcastforum.org).
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM): It is the dominant 2G digital mobile phone standard for most of the world. It determines the way in which mobile phones communicate with the land-based network of towers. It operates in the 900MHz and 1.8GHz bands in Europe and the 1.9GHz PCS band in the U.S. Based on a circuit-switched system that divides each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time slots, GSM defines the entire cellular system, not just the TDMA air interface. It is a fast-growing communications technology, there were more than 250 million GSM users early in 2000. By mid-2004, the one billionth GSM customers were connected.
Cell Broadcast Centre (CBC): It is the core of the Cell Broadcast System and acts as a server for all CBE clients. It is responsible for the administration of all SMS-CB messages it receives from the CBEs and realizes the communication towards the GSM network. The GSM network itself takes care of delivering the SMS-CB messages to the mobile terminals.
Cell Broadcasting (CB): A mobile technology feature defined by the ETSI’s GSM committee and is part of the GSM standard. Allows a text or binary message to be defined and distributed to all mobile terminals connected to a set of cells in a certain geographical area.
Home Location Register (HLR): It is the main database of subscriber information for a mobile network. Every subscriber is allocated to a HLR which is an integral component of code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks.
Cell Broadcast Message (SMS-CB): It is textual or binary message that is used for delivering information to all mobile phone users that are located in a certain geographical area.
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH): This channel is a feature of the GSM system. It is a downlink only channel and is intended to be used for broadcast information. It is mapped into the second subslot of the Standalone Dedicated Control Channel.
Short Message Service (SMS): It is a well known service, available on all mobile phones and on most other mobile devices and allows users exchange text messages.