NTT Docomo finishes fix after missed quake alerts on October 16
The carrier says its Area Mail system failed to read quake early-warning data in an unfamiliar format; the repair was completed at 19:04 on October 17.
NTT Docomo said it has completed a system repair after its Area Mail service failed to deliver earthquake early warnings for a quake on October 16, according to k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp. The carrier said the fix was in place as of 19:04 on October 17.
According to the company, the alerts were not sent because Docomo's system received data in a format partly different from the usual one and did not recognise it as valid information.
The missed alerts covered Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kanto, Koshin, Tokai and the Izu Islands.
Docomo said that after the repair, Area Mail can now be delivered even when data in the same format as the October 16 transmission is received.
Background
The earthquake early warning was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency after a quake struck near the Kamchatka Peninsula at around 12:40 on October 16.
Quick answers
Why did NTT Docomo's Area Mail fail to send the October 16 earthquake alert?
Docomo says its system received data in a partly different format and could not recognise it as correct information.
When was the Docomo fix completed?
The carrier says the system repair was completed as of 19:04 on October 17.
Which areas missed the alert?
Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kanto, Koshin, Tokai and the Izu Islands.