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Stockholm, Sweden – Sweden will conduct the first regional public test of its new SE-Alert emergency warning system on 7 September at 3:00 p.m. The test will take place across Stockholm County and Gotland County, coinciding with the quarterly test of the outdoor warning siren system, Hesa Fredrik.
SE-Alert is a new mobile-based public warning system designed to deliver Important Public Announcements (VMA) directly to mobile devices during serious incidents and emergencies. The test is intended to verify that the system operates effectively and can provide rapid, reliable alerts when they are needed most.
Unlike app-based notification systems, SE-Alert requires no application download or user registration. Alerts are delivered automatically to compatible mobile devices connected to the mobile network within the affected area.
The September exercise will be conducted across the Eastern Civil Area, which includes Stockholm and Gotland counties. The initiative is being coordinated by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) in collaboration with the County Administrative Boards of Stockholm and Gotland, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and SOS Alarm.
Individuals are expected to receive the test alert if they:
Are located in Stockholm County, the surrounding areas, or Gotland during the test (including residents, visitors, and tourists).
Have a compatible, updated smartphone or smart device.
Have their device switched on and connected to a mobile network.
Recipients will receive a text notification accompanied by a distinctive alert tone and vibration, even if their device is set to silent mode. As this is only a test, no action is required. Authorities encourage residents to inform children, older adults, and other vulnerable individuals in advance to avoid unnecessary concern.
As SE-Alert is still under development, the message title may appear in English during this initial test, while the message body will be displayed first in Swedish and then in English. Future software updates from Apple and Google are expected to improve language presentation.
People in neighboring counties—including Uppsala, Södermanland, and Västmanland—may also receive the alert due to the coverage range of mobile network towers, which does not align precisely with administrative boundaries.
SE-Alert was officially introduced on 1 July and will continue to undergo testing and refinement throughout the year.
Public testing in 2026 will take place in two phases:
Regional test: 7 September in Stockholm and Gotland.
National test: December across Sweden.
These exercises are designed to ensure the system performs reliably during real emergencies.
The implementation of SE-Alert has been led by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) in partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and SOS Alarm.
SE-Alert complements Sweden's existing Important Public Announcement (VMA) system. People without compatible mobile devices will continue to receive emergency information through multiple channels, including:
Sveriges Radio
SVT
Official emergency information apps
Outdoor warning sirens (Hesa Fredrik)
This layered approach helps ensure that critical safety information reaches as many people as possible during emergencies.
The introduction of SE-Alert represents a significant enhancement to Sweden's civil protection capabilities. By delivering location-based warnings directly to mobile devices, authorities can notify affected populations more quickly and accurately during emergencies, periods of heightened preparedness, or wartime situations.
Strengthening the country's public warning systems is a key component of Sweden's broader civil defence strategy, enabling authorities to warn, protect, and, when necessary, safely evacuate people while minimizing risks and disruption.
