Bangkok – Thailand’s capital is set to roll out the country’s first-ever 191 Emergency Location Service (ELS), a groundbreaking collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Patrol and Special Operations Division, leading operator AIS, and Google. The service aims to revolutionize emergency response by providing precise caller location data in real time.
Powered by Google’s Android ELS and based on advanced mobile location (AML) technology, the system will automatically and securely transmit a caller’s exact coordinates when dialing 191 on the AIS network. This feature overcomes common challenges such as caller distress, disorientation, or inability to describe an address.
Importantly, callers will not need mobile data or a special app—only an Android phone, where ELS is built directly into the operating system. By leveraging GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and device sensors, the system delivers accurate location details directly to emergency command centers.
Given Thailand’s high Android penetration, the service is expected to significantly enhance the country’s emergency response capabilities without requiring major hardware investment. AIS becomes the first Thai operator to enable this functionality, extending benefits to both local users and international tourists—helping to bolster safety and traveler confidence.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), which coordinated the initiative, expressed interest in expanding coverage across all device platforms, noting that AML is supported by both Android and iOS. Authorities hope to scale the service nationwide in the near future.
