India has quietly taken a major step forward in emergency response technology. On December 23, Google activated Android’s Emergency Location Service (ELS) in the country for the first time, with Uttar Pradesh becoming the inaugural state to fully deploy the system across its emergency infrastructure.
Unlike traditional emergency calls that rely on a caller’s
ability to describe their surroundings, ELS works automatically in the
background. The moment a user dials 112 or sends an emergency SMS, the phone
transmits precise location data directly to emergency responders—often before
the caller can explain what’s happening.
How ELS Changes Emergency Response
Emergency Location Service is built directly into Android devices
and is designed for moments when clarity is limited: accidents, medical crises,
or situations where the caller cannot speak for long. Instead of depending on a
single signal source, the system triangulates location using GPS, nearby Wi-Fi
networks, and mobile towers, typically narrowing down the caller’s position to
within about 50 metres.
Crucially, the system can still send location data even if
the call disconnects moments after connecting—an issue that frequently delays
rescue efforts in real-world emergencies.
In Uttar Pradesh, the service has been embedded into the
state’s UP112 command-and-control platform through coordination between the
Uttar Pradesh Police and Pert Telecom Solutions. This integration allows call
handlers to instantly view location data alongside incoming calls and messages,
helping dispatch teams reach victims faster in a state that processes millions
of emergency requests each year.
Privacy by Design, Not Afterthought
While ELS operates automatically during emergencies, Google
says it has no visibility into the data being shared. Location information is
transmitted directly from the handset to local emergency authorities and is
only activated during an emergency call or SMS. The data is neither stored nor
accessed by Google once the emergency interaction ends.
Device Support and Expansion Plans
The feature works on all Android smartphones running Android
6.0 or newer, covering the vast majority of devices currently in use across
India. On most phones, ELS is enabled by default, though users can confirm this
by navigating to Settings → Safety & Emergency → Emergency Location
Service.
For now, Uttar Pradesh stands alone. However, Google has
indicated that ELS will roll out to other Indian states as their emergency
response systems complete technical integration. Once adopted nationwide, the
service could significantly reduce response times in a country where delayed
location information has long been a critical bottleneck during emergencies.
In effect, Android ELS turns a smartphone into an automatic distress beacon—one that speaks for the user when seconds matter most.
By - Aaradhay Sharma
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