The Patrol and Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, in collaboration with AIS (SET: ADVANC), has announced a plan to launch Thailand’s first 191 Emergency Location Service (191 ELS). This service will enable emergency caller location identification via the 191 emergency calls for Android smartphone users on the AIS network without the need to install any additional applications. The system will use Advanced Mobile Location (AML) technology, which automatically transmits the caller’s location to emergency response centers when dialing 191. This innovation will empower police officers to reach emergencies with greater accuracy and timeliness, reflecting the strength of AIS’s intelligent network in supporting public safety missions and elevating public services through the most effective use of technology.
Police Major General Worawit Yanchinda, Commander of Patrol and Special Operation Division (191), said, “Emergency number 191 serves as the central mechanism for receiving emergency calls and providing assistance to the public in critical situations, whether in cases of crime, accidents, or disasters. Our officers operate 24/7 to ensure immediate response and support. However, a key challenge we have consistently faced is inaccuracies or delays in identifying the caller’s location. Many callers do not know their exact address, cannot describe the location clearly, or are unaware of where they are, which may cause delays in assistance and increase risks to public safety.
To address this, the Patrol and Special Operations Division has partnered with AIS and Google with the goal to bring the 191 Emergency Location Service (191 ELS) to Thailand. This marks a significant milestone in modernizing and elevating the 191 emergency response system to international standards. The service will enable accurate pinpointing of a caller’s location, reduce errors, and shorten the time needed to locate incidents allowing officers to respond, manage emergencies, and assist the public more swiftly and effectively.”
Ms. Wanwisa Mingcharoen, Head of APAC, Platforms & Devices at Google, discussed the potential of the technology, “Android Emergency Location Service, which is based on AML, is a feature on Android devices that is designed to help first responders locate people in an emergency. We are supportive of efforts in Thailand to enable the reception of this life-saving data and look forward to working together to make ELS available in the Country in the future.”
Mr. Sarun Phaloprakarn, Head of Mobile & Consumer Product Business Unit at AIS, stated, “AIS is committed to developing a secure and high-performance network that provides peace of mind in every usage for our customers and the Thai people, while continuously supporting the nation’s public safety mission. This commitment has led us to leverage technology to enable more effective emergency reporting through the 191 ELS service, in collaboration with the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Google, ensuring that emergency services can truly and seamlessly reach the public.
The 191 ELS service will operate in accordance with AML standards, supporting Android smartphones on the AIS network to automatically transmit the caller’s location from the device directly to Police 191 without requiring the caller to access any application. The service will also extends to international tourists visiting Thailand. AIS is the first network operator in the country to introduce this capability and has plans to expand the service to additional agencies in the future, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for people in a sustainable way.”
Mr. Jaturon Choksawat, Assistant Secretary-General of the NBTC, said, “As Thailand’s telecommunications regulator, the NBTC is committed to advancing the use of networks and digital technologies for the public good, particularly in building an effective emergency communication system. The 191 Emergency Location Service (ELS) represents a major milestone in enhancing national safety standards. The NBTC has therefore worked to support and coordinate with all stakeholders including government agencies, mobile operators, operating system developers, and emergency response units to ensure that this service can be fully implemented, widely accessible, and reliable. We are also expediting collaboration to extend coverage to all device platforms, so that every citizen can have equal access to faster, more accurate, and safer emergency assistance.”
