Highlights
- Google has activated Emergency Location Service (ELS) in India, starting with Uttar Pradesh.
- It enables 112 responders to receive accurate caller location automatically.
- It fuses mobile, Wi‑Fi, and GPS data to share location with 50m accuracy, even if calls drop.
Google has officially activated its Emergency Location Service (ELS) in India. The feature has been rolled out initially in Uttar Pradesh, making it the first Indian state to support Google’s ELS functionality. Here’s everything you need to know about the new feature.
Emergency Location Service (ELS) Now Live in India
Google’s Emergency Location Service is designed for situations where callers are unable to clearly communicate their location due to distress or weak network conditions. Built directly into Android, ELS helps emergency responders automatically receive accurate location details when a user places an emergency call or sends an SMS to 112.
The service works by using data fusion from mobile networks, Wi-Fi, and GPS signals to determine the caller’s location. According to Google, ELS can share location information automatically and is capable of working even if the emergency call disconnects shortly after being placed.
This marks the first time ELS has been made available in India. The rollout has begun in Uttar Pradesh, where the UP Police have already integrated the feature into their emergency response system for 112 services. The integration has been carried out in collaboration with Pert Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (PertSol).
ELS is only activated during emergency calls or messages and is completely free for users.
It is supported on Android devices running Android 6.0 or higher and can provide location accuracy within a radius of 50 metres. The feature can also transmit the caller’s language settings, allowing emergency responders to communicate more effectively. Google has clarified that it does not collect or store users’ location data through this service.
Recently, Google has also introduced the Emergency Live Video feature for Android smartphones. This feature allows users to share a live camera feed with emergency responders during a call or SMS.
FAQs
Q1. What is Google’s Emergency Location Service (ELS)?
Answer. ELS is built into Android and automatically shares accurate caller location with emergency responders during calls or SMS to 112, even if the call disconnects.
Q2. Where has Google’s ELS been launched first in India?
Answer. The service has been activated initially in Uttar Pradesh, with UP Police integrating it into their 112 emergency response system.
Q3. What devices and features support Google’s ELS?
Answer. ELS works on Android 6.0+ devices, offers location accuracy within 50 metres, transmits language settings, and is free for users. It does not store location data.