A new emergency location system in Greece, dubbed ELS, is now in operation across the country. After a successful pilot programme in Attica, it has now been rolled out nationwide.

Those who call the European Emergency Number 112 from ‘smart’ Android mobile devices, or send a message (SMS), are now being located with absolute precision by the emergency services. The system has been developed by the Ministry of Digital Government, in collaboration with Google and mobile providers in Greece (Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind and Forthnet).

The service will be especially useful in cases of search and rescue operations in mountainous areas, in isolated areas, in the countryside in general, and also at sea.

The system does not work with devices using non-android operating systems.