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Finnish authorities ponder emergency messaging system

Helsinki (dpa) - Finnish nationals may next year be able to
receive text messages about major accidents or natural disasters as
part of a new messaging system planned by the government, reports
said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications plans that the
messaging system should reach all mobile telephone subscribers who
use a Finnish operator, the Aamulehti newspaper reported.

Text messages could alert mobile telephone owners in Finland and
abroad about disasters like floods, tsunamis, forest fires, volcano
eruptions, nuclear accidents or terror attacks.

The proposal is currently being circulated for comment before the
government prepares a bill.

A committee earlier this year presented a draft report about the
text-based warning system. It suggested that the warning system
operators should based at the headquarters of the Finnish
Meteorological Institute in the capital, Helsinki.

The cost of setting up the system was estimated at 1.7 million
euros (2.2 million dollars), and annual running costs at 1.2 million
euros (1.5 million dollars).