Red Button Pressed for the First Time at Tallinn TV Tower as Taskusireen Project Reaches New Milestone

Today, the Tallinn TV Tower hosted a seminar showcasing the progress of Taskusireen, an innovative emergency alert system being developed in Estonia. The event featured the first-ever activation of the system's red button, successfully transmitting an alert to mobile phones in real time.

Recent crises, such as severe snowstorms and prolonged power outages, have highlighted the vulnerability of mobile networks. To address this, Estonia is piloting an alternative emergency communication channel that operates independently of mobile networks.

Taskusireen is designed to deliver fast and reliable alerts directly to smartphones, even when devices are in silent mode or disconnected from mobile service.

The highlight of the seminar was system's first public test. Attendees had the opportunity to witness how alerts are transmitted live and experience the functionality of Taskusireen across various devices.

“Today, we witnessed and tested a real-life solution that could soon turn every mobile phone into a personal emergency siren. This marks a significant step forward in the development of Estonia’s emergency alert system. Quickly and reliably informing people in times of crisis is our shared goal — it can save lives,” said Kadi Luht-Kallas, advisor at the Ministry of the Interior and project manager of Taskusireen.

Taskusireen is powered by 5G broadcast technology. In cooperation with TalTech and technology partners Tredess and Nakolos. Levira is piloting a future-ready national alert system solutions based on this technology. “In addition to alerts delivered to mobile devices, 5G broadcasting also enables the delivery of real-time news and video content — even when mobile connectivity is unavailable — by utilizing Levira’s resilient infrastructure across Estonia,” said Kristo Kaasan, CTO and Head of IT at Levira.

The next phase of the project is set to begin this summer and will focus on testing the technology’s reliability, coverage, and adaptability under different conditions. The aim is to assess whether this novel solution can become a permanent part of Estonia’s national alert system, helping to enhance public safety and preparedness.

Ensuring that people receive clear and timely information during emergencies is vital for national security. In recent years, Estonia has significantly developed its public warning system. Since 2023, location-based SMS alerts have been enabled, and emergency messages are broadcast via ETV, ETV+, Vikerraadio, as well as the “Ole Valmis!” and “Eesti.ee” mobile apps. Last year, physical sirens were also installed in major towns and cities. Taskusireen could become a valuable addition to Estonia’s emergency alert capabilities, improving the system’s resilience, speed, and visibility.

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.