Google’s Emergency Location Service (ELS) is now available for all Android users in Canada. The search giant announced that ELS will be fully rolled out in Canada, thanks to an initiative supported by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and partners like Bell, Telus, and RapidSOS.
According to the CRTC, about 80 percent of 9-1-1 calls in Canada are made from wireless devices. However, traditional emergency technologies often struggle to accurately locate mobile devices, leading to large search areas. Google developed ELS to address this issue by leveraging Wi-Fi, GPS, and cell tower data to provide more precise location information to emergency services when an Android user calls 9-1-1.
ELS is automatically activated on over 99.9 percent of Android phones running version 5 or newer in Canada, regardless of mobile provider. It functions across all provinces and territories with 9-1-1 services, ensuring that emergency services receive accurate location data to respond promptly. Google reassures users that ELS is solely used by emergency service providers and that their precise location is not accessed or stored by Google.
In regions where telecommunications companies do not directly share 9-1-1 location data, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories, Google collaborated with RapidSOS to make location information available to emergency services. Those interested in learning more about ELS can find additional information on the official Android website.
Overall, Canadians using Android phones now benefit from more accurate location services when calling 9-1-1, thanks to Google’s Emergency Location Service and the collaborative efforts of various partners in the country.
