Google Launches Emergency Location Service (ELS) For Android Users In India: How It Works And Why It Matters

Google has introduced Emergency Location Service (ELS) for Android users in India, and this is something that can reduce the time you have to wait for on-ground help during an emergency. With this feature now active, Android phone holders will automatically share their exact location with someone when they call or text an emergency service like 911 – meaning a more responsive, precise response. Uttar Pradesh is now the first state to fully operationalise the service, signalling a wider national roll-out.

What’s the Google Emergency Location Service?

Emergency Location Service is a native Android feature that becomes active once the user makes an emergency call or text. When a user places a call or sends a text to an emergency number, ELS will determine the location of the caller using GPS, Wi-Fi signals and cellular network data. This data is then relayed directly to first responders.

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According to Google, ELS can locate a user with an accuracy of within 50 metres – even if the caller is unsure of their location or physically incapable of describing it. This can be a lifesaver in the event of medical emergencies, accidents, crimes, or fires.

How ELS works in India

In India, ELS is now active in Uttar Pradesh, where the platform has been integrated with the state police control room number 112. Integration took place with the help of Pert Telecom Solutions.

When you make an emergency call on Android in Uttar Pradesh, your location is automatically sent with ELS to emergency services. It is a free service that is only triggered when making an emergency call or sending an SMS. Google says that location tracking is not perpetuated after an emergency encounter.

The tool is accessible for all Android phones running on the 6.0 version of the platform and up, but only in areas where local authorities have done the required technical integration.

Privacy and data handling

Google has emphasised that ELS was made with privacy at its core. Neither is the company receiving, storing or accessing the patient’s location precisely during an emergency. The data is not relayed to the emergency service provider but rather sent directly from the phone to it.

The sharing of location is restricted to emergency use only and can’t be initiated by apps, users or Google itself except during an emergency call or text.

Why this matters

Every second is critical in sea rescues. It's hard to know your address, particularly in unknown areas, the countryside or when stressed. By automatically sending accurate location information, ELS eliminates a major step between the need for help and emergency response.

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According to Google, ELS for Android has already provided emergency call location support on more than 20 million calls and messages worldwide when cellular coverage was not strong enough to ascertain location or when callers had removed themselves from view of cell towers.

What’s next

It is believed that Google would partner with additional Indian states to enable ELS for users outside Uttar Pradesh. With more and more emergency services getting with the programme, Android users all over the country could see quicker response times and all-around better emergency services.

Google also added an Emergency Live Video feature for Android that lets users send a live camera feed to emergency services, if and when requested. Together, the tools are part of a larger push to get smartphones more useful in emergency, life-threatening situations.