A GSM Cell Broadcast Mobile Network to Provide Wireless Alert and Warning Messages in Rural Areas Using Software Defined Radio (SDR) Technology

Cell broadcast (CB) is an essential tool in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) mobile system that allows the broadcast of messages to mobile users, which are located within a cell coverage. The CB tool is used to provide alert and warning messages, for instance: public safety messages, weather warnings and any type of emergency alerts (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, child abductions, hazardous situations). Nevertheless, considering rural areas, where the local population is scattered and there is poor mobile coverage, it is challenging to guarantee that mobile users receive the alert CB messages. Furthermore, telecommunication operators may not prioritize investing in complex and modern infrastructure in such remote locations. In this context, the utilization of Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology can help to improve the coverage and reliability of cell broadcast in such locations. Therefore, the contribution of this scientific paper is the deployment of a low-cost and low-power implementation of a Cell Broadcast network using an SDR device and an open-source project to allow the broadcast of messages to mobile users in rural areas.