Levira and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) won the public sector innovation tender conducted by the Government Office of Estonia, and will develop and test Pocket Siren, or 5G media transmission, in Estonia. As a result of the project, important and area-specific emergency messages will be sent to modern smartphones even when the mobile operator's network is down, or the device is in silent mode.
"Fast and accurate notifications about emergencies are important part of the national security, which means that the population's sense of danger and preparedness for emergency situations is our priority. To-be-piloted Pocket Siren solution provides people with fast and accurate information at critical moments, which can save lives. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly test such innovative solutions and deploy them, if necessary," said Kadi Luht-Kallas, Advisor to the Ministry of the Interior and Pocket Siren Project Manager.
According to Alar Kuusik, Senior Researcher in the TalTech Communication Systems Research Group, the Pocket Siren project is an excellent example of how research and development helps strengthen Estonia's national emergency notification system and bring innovative technological solutions to the market. "Our goal is to test how 5G media transmission can provide faster and more efficient notification than before."
"Levira is applying its technological capabilities in a two-year project covering a large area in Estonia, with the first test taking place in June. In cooperation with TalTech and good technology partners Tredess and Nakolos, Levira is piloting future solutions for the national emergency notification system. At the major exercise CREVEX 2023, held two years ago in Estonia, Levira tested the capabilities of 5G media transmission in sending emergency notifications in cooperation with the Rescue Board. We were convinced that in addition to emergency notifications that reach mobile devices, it is also possible to transmit operational news and video images even when there is no mobile coverage on the device, using Levira's robust infrastructure across Estonia," said Levira's CTIO Kristo Kaasan.
The Pocket Siren uses the capabilities of 5G media transmission devices placed in high-rise TV and radio masts, to transmit emergency notifications to many mobile phones instantly. Frequencies similar to regular television signals are also used, which are better transmitted and thus cover a larger area. A notification reaches the user's smartphone along with warning signals of sound, light and vibration, making it a personal alarm siren for each phone owner - hence the name "Pocket Siren". A similar solution has not yet been implemented in any country's emergency notification system, which is why Estonia is one of the first to test and evaluate the potential of this technology.
The aim of the pilot project that is underway is to determine whether 5G media transmission technology used in high-rise masts is suitable for efficient and reliable emergency notification transmission in Estonia. If the project is successful, the technology under test can significantly improve the continuity, accuracy and rapid alerting capability of the Estonian national emergency notification system.
The project will test:
1. The coverage and reliability of emergency notifications in different terrain types and weather conditions, as well as in movement.
2. The usability and functionality of the solution in different emergency scenarios.
3. All stages of emergency notification – decision-making, channel selection, notification preparation, transmission and user experience.
4. The suitability of audio signals, vibration and other warning mechanisms for different levels of danger.
If the testing confirms the suitability of the solution, a plan for developing a 5G media transmission network covering the whole of Estonia will be drawn up. The locations, frequency bands and capacities of the transmitters will be determined, and the development and administrative costs will be estimated. Successful implementation would also give the Pocket Siren significant export potential, as a similar solution has not yet been introduced in the world.
It is vital for the country that the population can quickly and clearly know what type of danger is present them and how to behave in an emergency. Estonia has developed a national emergency notification system in recent years – so, from 2023, it will be possible to send geolocated emergency text messages, transmit danger notification messages as text on channels of the Public TV (ETV, ETV+) and Radio, as well as in the “Ole Valmis!” (“Be Ready!”) and “Eesti.ee” mobile applications. Sirens were also installed in Estonia’s largest cities and settlements in 2024.
The project is steered by the Ministry of the Interior, the Rescue Board, the Defence Forces, the Emergency Response Centre, the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority, the Information Technology and Development Centre of the Ministry of the Interior, the State Information Communication Foundation and the Government Office of Estonia. The project is being carried out on behalf of the Strategy Office of the Government Office and is funded from the European Union's Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 period.


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