Pocketsirenalert

10 December Testing

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On Wednesday, 10 December, the Pocket Siren emergency alert technology will be tested in Tallinn. Although special testing devices will be used, some mobile phone users within the test area may still receive alert messages.

Pocket Siren is based on a 5G broadcast solution, and the current test network covers eight counties: Harju, Pärnu, Järva, Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Rapla, Viljandi and Tartu. The technology operates on digital television frequencies and enables both TV and radio broadcasting as well as fast emergency alerts. It is a unique solution that delivers alerts directly to smartphones, notifying users of major danger through sound, light and vibration. Since it is based on a broadcast network, alerts can also reach phones in situations where mobile networks are unavailable or the phone is in silent mode.

Together with its partners, Levira has identified at least 12 mobile device models that already support broadcast frequencies. This means that during the test, owners of these devices may receive test messages — if this happens, please keep in mind that there is no real threat. The Ministry of the Interior and its project partners kindly ask anyone who receives such a message to provide feedback via the website taskusireen.ee .

The test on 10 December will involve employees and volunteers from the participating organisations, as well as representatives of local authorities and other cooperation partners. The test aims to assess how the technology functions, what the user experience is like, and how well the alerts can be heard and seen.

The Pocket Siren project is led by the Ministry of the Interior, the Estonian Rescue Board, the Estonian Defence Forces, the Emergency Response Centre, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, the Information Technology and Development Centre of the Ministry of the Interior, the State Communication Foundation and the Government Office of Estonia. Technological development and testing are carried out by Levira, TalTech, Tredess and Nakolos. The project is funded by the European Union Cohesion Policy funds for 2021–2027. More information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at taskusireen.ee .

Testing of the Pocket Siren Take Place on July 16

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On Wednesday, July 16, an emergency alert system—Pocket Siren—will be tested in Tallinn, Pärnu, and Rakvere. While the test primarily uses specialized devices, some mobile phone users within the test areas may also receive alert notifications.

Pocket Siren is based on a 5G broadcast technology and currently covers eight counties in Estonia: Harju, Pärnu, Järva, Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Rapla, Viljandi, and Tartu. Operating on Digital terrestrial television (DTT)  frequencies, the system is capable of transmitting both television and radio content as well as urgent emergency alerts. This unique technology can instantly deliver critical alerts to mobile phones using sound, light, and vibration, ensuring people are notified of major threats even if their phones are on silent or disconnected from mobile networks.

During the upcoming test, special equipment will be used to receive the broadcast signal, as most smartphones today are not yet compatible with the required broadcast frequencies. However, Levira and its partners have identified at least 12 mobile device models that already support this technology. As a result, users of those devices may receive test messages. If you do receive such a notification, please note that it is only a test and there is no actual danger. The Ministry of the Interior and its partners would greatly appreciate feedback from users who receive these test messages. Feedback can be submitted at taskusireen.ee.

The July 16 test will involve staff from participating institutions, volunteers, local government representatives, and project partners. The aim is to evaluate how the technology performs in different urban environments, assess the user experience, and ensure that alerts are both visible and audible in real-world conditions.

The Pocket Siren project is led by the Ministry of the Interior, Rescue Board, Estonian Defence Forces, Emergency Response Centre, Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, Information and Communication Technology Center of the Ministry of the Interior, State Communications Foundation, and the Government Office of Estonia. Technology development and testing are carried out by Levira, TalTech, Tredess, and Nakolos. The project is funded by the European Union Cohesion Policy 2021–2027.

14.05.2025 national public warning test

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Pocket Siren Tested During the National Emergency Alert Drill – First Step Complete!

On May 14, the Pocket Siren system participated in the nationwide emergency alert test. The goal was to evaluate how the system performs in a real-world-like scenario. At the time of testing, only one transmitter was installed – at the Tallinn TV Tower – which meant coverage was limited.

Despite the restricted range, we were able to gather valuable feedback on how the system performed, and the initial results were promising. This marked an important first step toward a full-scale solution that will eventually cover all of Estonia.

If you received the alert on your phone during the May 14 test, we invite you to share your experience on the Pocket Siren website: Feedback – Pocket siren. Every response helps us improve the system and make it more reliable.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during the test, and we thank everyone who contributed to making it a success!