Cell Broadcast Service
Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) is a one-to-many geotargeted and geofenced messaging service that utilizes the cellular network infrastructure to deliver public warning messages to mobile phones in specific geographic areas. It is a standard part of GSM and 3G networks and is available on every phone compatible with today’s networks, from the latest smartphones to older feature phones.
CBS Message Parameters
A CBS message can consist of up to 15 pages, each page having up to 1395 characters (alphanumeric and binary data). A message code is assigned for the purpose of categorizing CBS messages based on their content (emergency alerts, weather warnings etc) and update numbers are incremented as new versions of the same message are transmitted.
CBS is a cost effective way for government agencies and mobile network operators to reach large audiences in the case of an emergency, compared to other methods like SMS or existing digital warning channels. CBS can be used to address people present in a single cell sector or even larger polygons covering cities and countries with different languages, so as not to panic the local population. CBS can also be updated as incidents develop during an event, and at the end of the incident an all-clear message can be broadcast.
In addition to emergency and nonemergency notifications, CBS can be used by mobile network operators to send user-defined text messages and custom data – for example business news, weather forecasts and local traffic information. Celltick provides a unique return-on-investment advantage for operators that implement emergency systems through our revenue-generating idle screen solution LiveScreen Media, which easily integrates with CBS to enable advertising and marketing on the phone’s homescreen.