Estonia will be testing a unique technology over the next two years as part of the Pocket Siren project enabling to instantly send emergency alerts directly to recipients’ smartphones.
In the event of a major threat, the owner of the phone will be alerted by sound, light, and vibration. The Pocket Siren works even if the phone is in silent mode or if the mobile network is down.
State Secretary Taimar Peterkop said that quickly informing residents in an emergency is crucial for the state, as demonstrated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“From a civil protection perspective, it is vital to deliver emergency alerts through various infrastructures. The Pocket Siren, developed as an innovation project, does not depend on mobile operators’ networks and would supplement the notification of people in situations where mobile communications are down,” Peterkop said.
Project manager Kadi Luht-Kallas added that it is sensible to use different channels to alert residents, depending on the situation.
“Smartphones have become indispensable in many daily activities and are as essential to carry as keys or a wallet. The Pocket Siren would act as a personal siren for every smartphone owner, allowing the state to quickly notify them of any life-threatening dangers,” Luht-Kallas said.
The goal of the Pocket Siren project is to determine if 5G technology-based media communication is suitable for delivering emergency alerts. If successful, this technology could significantly enhance the resilience, accuracy, and rapid alert capabilities of Estonia’s national emergency notification system. This solution is not yet used anywhere else in the world. Should the technology testing succeed, this pilot project could also have significant export potential given the current security situation.
Since last year, it has been possible in Estonia to send SMS alerts to mobile phones located in hazard areas. If needed, emergency messages can also quickly reach the airwaves on ETV and ETV+ television channels and appear on the screens of radio devices tuned to Vikerraadio and Raadio 4 radio channels.
By the end of this year, a national siren system will be established. The emergency alert capability can be integrated into the Ole Valmis! (Be Ready!) mobile app and the state mobile application eesti.ee, which is currently in development. Additionally, Estonia will participate in an EU pilot project this fall to test sending emergency alerts to devices using location information via the Galileo satellite, a solution set to be implemented next year.
The Pocket Siren project will last for two years with a budget of 1.25 million euros. The project involves contributions from the Interior Ministry, Rescue Board, defense forces, Emergency Response Center, Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, IT and Development Center at the Interior Ministry, and the State Infocommunication Foundation.
Source: BNS
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