Emergency numbers Emergency services now also accessible via real-time text
In future, emergency numbers for the police, fire department and rescue services in Switzerland will also be accessible in writing in real time via smartphone. The Federal Council has amended several ordinances to this end.
06.05.2026, 11:38
SDA
The new regulation will enable people with hearing impairments in particular to access the emergency services, the national government announced at its meeting on Wednesday.
Real-time text makes it possible to transmit text messages simultaneously during a voice call, it said. The function is already available on the latest smartphones and does not require a special app or registration.
According to the information provided, various technical and organizational requirements must be met before the project can be implemented. These include, for example, the complete digitalization of the mobile phone networks, the procurement of the necessary equipment in the alarm centers and the training of personnel.
Conversion necessary
According to the Federal Council, the new function will be available in the mobile network from mid-2028. In order for it to be used, the emergency services' control centers must be equipped accordingly. It initially remained unclear when exactly this will be the case: the federal government will provide information on this in consultation with the emergency call centers, it said.
At its meeting, the Federal Council also amended other ordinances. On the one hand, the amendments relate to the fact that automated emergency calls from vehicles can now be made via more modern mobile phone technologies.
Secondly, it concerns the short number 142 of Victim Support Switzerland, which has been in operation since May 1. Among other things, the ordinance now stipulates that access to victim support must be free of charge. Telecommunications companies are also not allowed to disclose any call data.
