Ströer city information systems supplement the warning chain nationwide

Nationwide Warning Day on 12 September: City information systems rehearse with a test warning for emergencies / A public opinion survey on the occasion of the Nationwide Warning Day shows that city information systems close an essential gap in the warning chain

Since 2018, Ströer’s digital city information systems have already been integrated into the federal government’s satellite-based Modular Warning System (MoWaS). In over 300 cities in Germany, they now act as an official channel for passing on warnings at traffic junctions and in city centres. They provide visual information in the event of an emergency and can thus give citizens targeted guidance.

This year’s Nationwide Warning Day will take place on 12 September from 11 a.m. as a test of the national warning infrastructure. Ströer’s approximately 6,000 digital city information systems in public spaces are again part of the trial warning. The aim of Warning Day is to test the central Modular Warning System (MoWaS) of the federal government and the associated internal processes for sending a warning message at warning level 1, as well as to carry out a technical test of all directly connected warning devices and warning multipliers. 

The public opinion survey for Nationwide Warning Day 2023 shows that it is primarily city information systems that reach the population when they are out and about in public spaces, thus closing an important gap in the warning chain. More than 80 per cent of respondents stated that they are in favour of trying out new technologies and communication channels to warn the public on warning days.

BBK President Ralph Tiesler: “The approximately 6,000 city information systems from Ströer are a perfect addition to the existing warning devices. Each warning device has its specific advantages and disadvantages. The city information systems excel in that they can warn citizens quickly and reliably in their everyday lives in urban areas as well as displaying specific recommendations for action in addition to the hazard message.”

Depending on the level of danger, the programme on Ströer’s digital city information systems is interrupted for the warning, or the warning is included in the regular playout loop. The warning messages on the screens quickly provide important information and initial recommendations on how those affected can best react in the event of a sudden incident.

In addition to the national agreements with the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), Ströer has entered into further regional and local agreements with cities, municipalities and fire service and police departments across Germany that also have the need for a warning multiplier. 

“Safety communication, crisis communication and prevention. Countless past events have shown us how important it is to have a good public infrastructure, with which citizens can be informed and warned in a targeted manner and in real time. As an official warning multiplier, we are striving to further expand our ‘Municipal City Information System’ to optimise warnings in public spaces via screens and thus support municipal crisis teams,” says Alexander Stotz, CEO of Ströer Media Deutschland GmbH.            

For example, it is possible to integrate sirens on Ströer’s media systems and supplement the previously purely visual warning messages on the screens with acoustic signals. Tailored speech outputs are also possible, for example for individual streets. This way, the crisis teams of the cities can be supported in setting up a new siren infrastructure to warn the population.


For more Information read our interview mit Ralph Tiesler, President of BBK, on our Blog.