Overview of ERA-GLONASS and System-112 Collaboration
From the launch of the system to the present, the ERA-GLONASS contact center has processed an immense volume of communications, handling well over 24 million messages. This milestone was disclosed by Roman Rulev, who directs the subscription service division at JSC GLONASS. The scale reflects the program’s reach and its vital role in emergency response coordination across the country.
Each day, the center’s agents manage in excess of 40,000 emergency calls. This steady stream demonstrates the demand for rapid, reliable assistance and the constant readiness of the dispatch network to respond to crises across diverse regions.
In 2022, approximately four out of five calls required by emergency services were automatically received when drivers or passengers could not place a direct call themselves. This automatic triage and reception capability significantly reduced response times during critical moments when every second counts, ensuring that help could be mobilized even in challenging circumstances.
Throughout the operation of the response system, rescue personnel relied on more than 226 thousand calls from motorists seeking guidance, support, or urgent help. The majority of these messages originated from the Central, Volga, and Northwestern Federal Districts, highlighting regional demand patterns and the importance of robust coverage in densely populated areas and surrounding regions.
Today, the direct transmission of precise accident coordinates to emergency services is guaranteed thanks to the continuous automated interaction between ERA-GLONASS and System-112 in 84 of Russia’s 85 regions. The remaining integration in the Smolensk region is scheduled for completion before the end of the year, reinforcing nationwide interoperable communications for faster incident localization and response.
About 4% of all emergency calls received at the ERA-GLONASS Contact Center originate from witnesses to incidents or violations. This share has shown year-over-year growth, reflecting increasing public awareness and the importance of timely reporting in preventing harm and accelerating aid.
Beyond crashes, car owners equipped with the SOS button use the service for a range of non-accident situations. The most common calls illustrate a broad spectrum of needs that the system can address, extending safety measures beyond mere collision response.
- Requesting an ambulance for a vehicle on the road or at home when mobile access is limited or unavailable
- Taxi drivers seeking assistance in conflict situations with passengers or during attempts of assault
- Situations where a driver is lost or blocked and cannot find assistance
- Eyewitness reports of fires in residential buildings or forested areas
- Roadside support during severe weather events, including ice, blizzards, and heavy snowfall, or when traffic signals fail and debris blocks the roadway
- Requests from bystanders to contact police in cases of street crime or suspicious activity
- Alerts regarding unattended children left in vehicles
The system keeps a running catalog of the most frequent accident scenarios and the most dangerous violations, helping responders prioritize and allocate resources where they are most needed.
The capability for rapid location sharing and seamless coordination between ERA-GLONASS and System-112 represents a core advancement in emergency response. It ensures that operators, responders, and on-the-ground teams can act with confidence when time is critical.
In summary, the collaboration between ERA-GLONASS and System-112 has transformed how emergencies are detected, communicated, and managed, delivering faster access to help and a structured approach to dispatch in a wide range of scenarios. The initiative continues to expand its geographic reach and continue to improve safety outcomes across the country.
A visual representation accompanies this article to illustrate the connectivity and flow of information across the emergency response network.