Here you can find frequently asked questions and answers.
Why do you receive an emergency alert outside a danger area?
When the police or Civil Defence send out an emergency alert, they define the alert area on a map. The alert is then broadcast via the mobile operators’ cell towers that cover this defined area.
Signals from the cell towers vary in range and direction due to topography and technology. Therefore, it is not possible to precisely restrict an alert to a strictly defined geographical area. This is also the case in other countries that use the same technology.
To achieve more geographically precise alerts, a new feature has been added to the Emergency Alert system starting from March 2025. With this update, the mobile phone still receives the alert as before, but now uses its own location to determine whether the alert should be displayed. The majority of mobile phones used in Norway support this functionality.
In practice, this means the phone "checks" whether it is inside or outside the defined alert area based on its own location. Based on this "check," the phone will know whether the emergency alert is relevant or not. Phones that are outside the alert area will then not display the alert.
The mobile phone does not share its location or any other information with the authorities.
Nevertheless, for various reasons, some people outside the defined alert area may still receive the emergency alert. For example, this applies to phones that do not support location services, phones that lack location data, or if the phone’s location is inaccurate.
For people located in the boundary zone of an alert area, some may receive the alert and others may not - depending on, among other things, which cell tower they are connected to and whether the phone can use its location data.
Which phones support the use of location when receiving Emergency Alerts?
- iPhones running iOS 17.7 or newer
- Android phones running Android 10 (A10) or newer, with Google Play services version 2024/9 or newer
Can I turn off emergency warnings?
Emergency alerts have several levels. It is not possible to turn off alerts about the most serious incidents. For less serious incidents, it is possible to opt out of alerts. You can do this by changing the alert settings on your mobile phone.
Will I receive emergency alerts if I am abroad?
You will not receive emergency alerts for Norway when you are abroad.
If you use your mobile phone with a Norwegian SIM card abroad, you can receive Cell Broadcast notifications from the country’s authorities, if you are in a country that has activated this service and your phone supports this type of notification.
Why are only 4G and 5G supported?
Norway has extensive coverage for 4G and will also have good 5G coverage. The 2G network is being used less and less for mobile telephony and there are plans to phase this out in a few years.
How will I receive warnings if I do not have a mobile telephone?
Emergency alerts via mobile telephones are a supplement to other types of public warning systems. In a crisis situation, information will be given via news media/traditional media, radio and social media. In the event of major and serious incidents, normal warning systems can also be used.
Which language will emergency alerts be in?
Emergency alerts will be sent out in Norwegian and English.
Can I (or my child/others) opt out of receiving emergency alerts?
It is not possible to opt out of receiving emergency alterts at the highest level. These will be used if the authorities believe the alerts can save people’s lives and health. For the lower alert levels, it is possible to change the alert settings yourself. This can be done in the mobile phone’s settings.
Will I receive Emergency Alerts if I do not have coverage?
Emergency Alerts are sent over the 4G and 5G networks. If you do not have coverage, or only have 2G coverage, you will not be able to receive Emergency Alerts. In Norway, there is approximately equal 4G and 2G coverage.
If my mobile operator has problems with coverage, can I then receive Emergency Alerts via other operators’ networks?
If your mobile operator does not have coverage, you cannot receive Emergency Alerts via another operator. To ensure enhanced preparedness, the Norwegian Communications Authority (NKOM) recommends that family members have subscriptions from differing mobile operators.
Are all mobile operators ready to send out Emergency Alerts?
Yes. ICE, Telia and Telenor are now ready to broadcast Emergency Alerts over their mobile networks.
If I have a prepaid card, will I receive Emergency Alerts?
Yes. Mobile phone users with prepaid cards will receive Emergency Alerts in the same way as other subscribers.
Will users with foreign SIM cards receive Emergency Alerts in Norway?
Yes. Visitors using the Norwegian mobile networks will receive Emergency Alerts in the same way as Norwegian subscribers. If the mobile phone is set up in a language other than Norwegian, they will receive Emergency Alerts in both Norwegian and English.
Will customers with priority subscriptions receive Emergency Alerts when they are guests on a different mobile network?
Yes, they will. They will be notified via the network on which they are a guest.
Why do I need to update?
Emergency alert is based on a standardized technology that is used in several countries and which is built into most modern mobile phones. This technology must be activated for use in Norway, and this is done automatically when you update to newer software versions. As Emergency Alert recently entered the software updates for Norwegian users, a recently updated mobile phone is required to be able to receive Nødvarsel. The manufacturers of the mobile phones set restrictions on which of their devices can be updated with the necessary software to receive Emergency Alerts.
How does Emergency Alert work with Hearing Aid?
NAV Assistive Technology Center have tested Hearing Aid devices with the Emergency Alert System. These are the results:
Sony Xperia 10 IV with Phonak Marvel Hearing Aid (MFA-Made for all) – Worked fine. The alarm sounded both in the loudspeaker and in the hearing aid. The text was also read out loud in the hearing aid.
iPhone 12 with Phonak Marvel Hearing Aid (MFA-Made for all) – Worked fine. The alarm sounded both in the loudspeaker of the phone and in the hearing aid.
iPhone X connected to Oticon OPN Hearing Aird (MFI-made for iPhone) – The alarm sounded in the loadspeaker of the phone, unsure if it also sounded in the hearing aid as the alarm om the phone was strong and the hearing aid was set to low volume (the tester has normal hearing).
