The nationwide test message sent across Cyprus on the evening of March 4 once again showed that the country still lacks a modern, fully functional public emergency warning system.
Some citizens received the alert immediately, others with major delays, while many reported receiving nothing at all. Telecom providers confirmed the test used bulk SMS technology, which distributes messages gradually when traffic volume is high.
Under EU requirements, emergency alerts should be delivered instantly and simultaneously to all phones in a defined area, including via technologies such as cell broadcast. Cyprus is still developing this infrastructure, even though the EU deadline passed in 2022.
The weakness had already become visible during the major 2025 wildfires in mountainous Limassol, when residents were warned through improvised methods such as loudspeakers and door-to-door notifications.
According to the report, the original procurement process was cancelled and relaunched, while implementation depends on coordination among multiple authorities. As a result, full deployment remains delayed well beyond the EU timeline.
