ONEMI, Chile
In February 2010, Chile has suffered from one of the worst earthquakes in its history. The event was even more tragic as the country has been hit also by a devastating tsunami right after the earthquake. Although the information was known and the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has delivered all necessary information in time, this precious information has not reached the public. Chile hasn’t had an adequate emergency alert and notification system to alert the target population in time. This has lead to the fact that it suffered more casualties due to the Tsunami than through the earthquake itself. Newly elected President Sebastian Pineda decided to conduct a feasibility study. The conclusion was that a new system should be put in place in order to be better prepared in the next emergency event. The decision was to introduce a multi-channel alert and notification system using cell broadcast technology in the first phase to be completed then by further means of notification such as analog and digital TV broadcast, radio, sirens and Internet. 
Following the President’s order the Chilean Sub Secretary of Telecommunications (Subtel) has issued in January 14th 2011 an official tender for deployment of Chile’s next generation emergency alert and notification system. eVigilo participated in this tender alongside of competition from all around the world and has won the tender mainly due to field experience, technical expertise and technological superiority. The eVigilo project uses cell broadcast notification in its initial phase soon to be completed by further means of information as mentioned above. The system provides high availability and geo-site redundancy and stands up to the harshest security and reliability requirements. eVigilo system utilizes standard protocols based on OASIS CAP v1.2 (Common Alert Protocol), hence, ensures that any future technology could be seamlessly adopted and integrated. The system’s first phase based on cell broadcast technology has been completed in a record time of less than 6 months and was available for operation already during October 2011, connected to all 5 mobile operators in Chile. Additional communication channels such as radio, TV and Internet will be added during the next time.
