C-DOT adds two-way, multilingual features to India's emergency cell-broadcast alerts
The Centre for Development of Telematics is adding an interactive layer to India's cell-broadcast disaster alerts, letting users reply with safety status or assistance requests, and is also building a voice-based, multilingual query service.
India’s telecom research agency, the Centre for Development of Telematics, is upgrading the cell-broadcast system used by the National Disaster Management Authority with an interactive module that enables citizens to send status updates back to officials during emergencies. Users will be able to choose options such as “I am safe,” “Evacuate me,” or “Send medicine,” allowing authorities to view a real-time map of who needs help.
In parallel, C-DOT is developing a voice-based query system that accepts spoken requests in languages like Tamil or Telugu, converts them to English, processes them with an in-house AI, and replies in the caller’s language. The voice service is expected to become operational first, while the full two-way functionality may require at least a year to complete. C-DOT has already trialed the broadcast technology in four countries, though it did not disclose which, and adoption will hinge on whether the NDMA purchases the solution, which was first demonstrated nationally in a test launched by Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Why it matters
Two-way, multilingual alerts can speed rescue operations and reduce casualties during Indian disasters.
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