Overview

When floods rise or storms sweep, reaching people with timely, trusted information is  critical and minutes matter. Venture Fund seed and growth funding alum Somleng has recently launched their second digital public good, powered by the open CPaaS solution initially supported by the Venture Fund: OpenEWS—a government-facing alert system that can help countries broadcast life-saving warnings at scale.

With support from the GSMA Innovation Fund, Somleng rolled out OpenEWS in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Nepal, with discussions underway in Pakistan. The platform was recently approved as a Digital Public Good (DPG), recognizing its potential to strengthen national disaster response systems through open-source technology.

How it Works

OpenEWS is designed for flexibility, supporting a tiered, multi-channel approach—governments can issue alerts through SMS, IVR, or Cell Broadcast (an instant, loud emergency alert to all phones in a geographic area), depending on the emergency. 

This innovation is paired with strategic partnerships. In Cambodia, integration with the national IDPoor database will expand OpenEWS coverage to one million of the country’s most vulnerable people. In Lao PDR, collaboration with Lao Telecom has already connected 47,000 beneficiaries, with more to come. Somleng’s APIs also mean governments using existing systems can integrate seamlessly—an open-source advantage that keeps costs down and avoids vendor lock-in.

The GSMA partnership is equally critical. Beyond funding, GSMA is helping connect Somleng to telcos worldwide, positioning the platform as a commercially viable alternative to global giants. Somleng is now building billing capabilities so that telcos can monetize services like OTPs for banks, while simultaneously supporting government-run early warning systems. This dual-use model strengthens sustainability while ensuring that critical alerts remain free and accessible.

Looking ahead, Nepal is slated to be the first test case for Cell Broadcast integration on OpenEWS, targeting deployment at a fraction of traditional costs. If successful, it could provide a blueprint for governments worldwide seeking to meet the UN’s call for “Early Warnings for All” by 2027.

Somleng’s journey demonstrates how open-source innovation, paired with the right partnerships, can reshape public infrastructure. By combining affordability, interoperability, and government ownership, Somleng, through OpenEWS, helping lay the groundwork for early warning systems that scale in developing contexts.