Pocket siren technology sends a notification to a smartphone. The notification is transmitted via sound, light, and vibration. The notification can also be received when the operator's network is down or the phone is in silent mode.
The test network covers Harju, Pärnu, Järva, Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Rapla, Viljandi, and Tartu counties. Testing takes place in Tallinn, Pärnu, and Rakvere because it is easier to find volunteer testers in larger cities.
During the pocket siren testing, an alternative network for emergency alerts is being tested. In Tallinn, Pärnu, and Rakvere, there are masts that transmit radio signals.
During the testing, a test emergency alert message is sent. The test checks which devices receive the message. Some devices can send emergency alerts with satellite-level coordinate accuracy.
Levira has identified 12 smartphone models that support broadcast frequencies. Regular users should not receive the message, but some foreign phones might receive it.
The message states that it is a test message. The message is in Estonian, Russian, and English. If someone receives this message, they are asked to provide feedback on the taskusireen.ee website.
Pocket siren technology is based on 5G broadcast technology. No country is yet fully using 5G technology. Development work is aimed at enabling phones to transmit TV and radio services.
The alternative network is needed due to recent events in Europe. For example, Spain and Portugal experienced prolonged power outages where mobile networks stopped working.
5G broadcast technology could be more widely adopted in Europe by the end of this decade. In the future, it could become one of the main emergency alert channels.
The pocket siren project is led by the Ministry of the Interior, the Rescue Board, the Defense Forces, and other institutions. Technological development and testing are handled by Levira, TalTech, Tredess, and Nakolos.
The development of the pocket siren began in 2025 and will continue until 2026. The project aims to introduce and test 5G broadcast technology for public emergency alerts.