Indotel releases proof of RD$59.9 million payment for emergency alert system

Guido Gómez Mazara, president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), has released proof of a payment totaling RD$59,937,050.05 (approximately US$963,000) for the acquisition of the Cell Broadcast System (CBS).

The funds, transferred to the National Treasury in December 2025, are intended for the National Emergency and Security 9-1-1 System to establish a national emergency alert regime. The disclosure follows public questioning regarding why mobile phones failed to emit alerts during a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on September 27, 2026.

While Gómez Mazara maintains that the country possesses the necessary technical capacity and trained personnel, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) clarified that the system is still in the implementation phase. According to COE head Edwin Olivares, the platform is not yet 100% operational across all telecommunications providers and requires further technical validation and protocol establishment.