BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment introduced a nationwide cell-broadcast warning system that will immediately notify mobile users when PM2.5 pollution reaches hazardous levels.
Government initiates rapid launch
On 12 November 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources Minister Suchart Chomklin instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) in Bangkok to accelerate the nationwide activation of the PM2.5 cell-broadcast alert system. The order was issued ahead of the 2025–2026 dry season, when air quality typically deteriorates across the northern and central provinces.
The directive mandated close coordination among three major entities:
– Pollution Control Department (PCD) – responsible for collecting and analysing air quality data.
– Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) – tasked with delivering the alerts nationally using disaster-warning infrastructure.
– Private partners including AIS – assigned to ensure network-wide broadcast capacity and coverage for over 70 million mobile phones.
System details and operation
According to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Lalida Periswiwatana, the alerts will automatically reach all devices within affected provinces, regardless of SIM brand or registration status. Each message will provide three core data points:
– Current PM2.5 levels and corresponding risk categories.
– Forecasts for upcoming days in the affected locality.
– Health instructions, indicating when to wear masks, limit outdoor exposure, or stay indoors.
“No app installation is required. Every mobile phone in affected areas will receive the alerts automatically,”
said Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Government Spokeswoman.
Public–private initiative to combat air pollution
The initiative forms part of a public–private partnership combining government infrastructure with private-sector network capabilities. The Pollution Control Department will process air quality data from sensors located in 77 provinces and forward analytical results to the DDPM for dissemination.
“Thailand has now entered the PM2.5 season,”
said Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Government Spokeswoman.
“The government is fast-tracking this alert system to ensure that citizens receive timely information and can protect themselves effectively. This marks an important step in applying digital technology to safeguard the environment and public health.”
Targeting dry-season pollution surge
The PCD’s latest forecast, released in November 2025, predicted PM2.5 concentrations to exceed safe thresholds in at least 30 provinces by January 2026. Officials confirmed that the cell-broadcast system will help communities in high-risk zones react immediately to sudden smog surges.
Minister Suchart Chomklin stated that government agencies were on high alert and that the real-time information would strengthen protection for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
Universal coverage, including tourists
Authorities confirmed that the broadcast technology will reach all mobile phones connected to Thai networks, including foreign visitors. Messages will display in both Thai and English, enabling better comprehension for travellers during hazardous periods.
Implementation and monitoring
The Pollution Control Department and DDPM will monitor system performance through incident reports collected daily from provincial environment offices. Officials said the feedback loop will guide refinement of message timing and geographic targeting.
The Ministry emphasised its plan to review public response metrics after the first 60 days of operation in January 2026, to determine if additional warning layers or regional thresholds are needed.
Thailand’s government described the model as part of its broader digital environmental management policy, aimed at delivering fast, actionable data to the population during high-risk weather conditions.