Pilot Network for National Emergency Alert System “Taskusireen” Launched Using Innovative 5G Broadcasting Technology
A pilot network for the national emergency alert system, “Pocket Siren,” has been launched, based on a cutting-edge 5G broadcast solution. The network currently covers Harju, Pärnu, Järva, Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Rapla, Viljandi, and Tartu counties. This new technology enables rapid and reliable alerts to the population in life-threatening situations, even when conventional communication channels are unavailable.
The Taskusireen pilot network (mux8) operates on digital TV frequencies E40 (626 MHz) and E41 (634 MHz), also known in the mobile sector as band n71. This enables the transmission of both television and radio content—currently including ETV and Vikerraadio channels—as well as emergency alerts directly to smartphones. Alerts are received instantly and include audio, visual, and vibration signals, even when the phone is in silent mode.
“To ensure the reliability and functionality of the network, various tests are being conducted to assess the entire emergency notification chain—from the decision to send an alert and the message composition to delivery to the end user. Attention is also given to signal activation according to threat levels, location-based delivery, and various device settings such as airplane mode,” explained Kristo Kaasan, CTO of Levira.
While most devices sold in the European Union do not yet support the technology used in the pilot network, successful development and testing could pave the way for broader adoption across Europe. This would, however, require future legislative changes and updates to frequency regulations.
Some smartphones on the market already support 5G broadcast technology. If you happen to receive an emergency alert during the pilot, please notify the project team at https://taskusireen.ee/.
In addition to regular technical tests, a large-scale system testing day is scheduled for July 16. During this test, Taskusireen’s full capabilities will be assessed in cooperation with partner organizations. This test is intended solely for the project team and will not affect the general public. “The main focus of the Taskusireen test day is the end-user experience. At TalTech, we are helping to evaluate how well people understand the alerts and how they respond to them. The user perspective is critical to ensure that the technology performs effectively in real crisis situations,” said Anet Tammets, project manager at TalTech.
The development of Taskusireen is based on initial system trials conducted at the Tallinn TV Tower in early 2024. The first public test, known as the “red button push,” took place at the tower in late April, demonstrating real-time alert transmission and the user experience on various devices.
The initiative is driven by the Ministry of the Interior, the Rescue Board, the Defence Forces, the Emergency Response Centre, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, the IT and Development Centre of the Ministry of the Interior (SMIT), the State Infocommunication Foundation (RIKS), and the Government Office. Following a recent procurement, Levira and TalTech are developing and testing the technology. 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.