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Prague has activated a new emergency alert system that uses digital screens at tram and bus stops to deliver public safety messages. The city’s infrastructure firm, THMP, launched the system Friday, saying it will be used during serious incidents such as natural disasters or large-scale accidents.
The initiative marks a shift in the use of the city's digital infrastructure, which until now was primarily reserved for scheduled advertising. Integrated into Prague’s existing City Information Channel (MIK), the system allows officials to override all regular content and display emergency messages instantly—day or night—across 140 screens throughout the capital.
Fast deployment in times of crisis
The new system is built into the city’s central content management system, giving Prague's crisis management center direct access to control messaging. In a matter of seconds, dispatchers can publish urgent information to all or selected screens located in high-risk areas, according to THMP.
“We had to completely redesign the original platform, which had been focused on running advertising campaigns, to enable fast, high-priority alerts,” said Tomáš Novotný, vice-chair of THMP’s board. “The system now includes a direct interface for the city’s emergency operations center, allowing key information to be sent out immediately with just a few clicks.”
Officials say the system was created to meet legal requirements under the Integrated Rescue System Act and will be used only in exceptional situations—such as natural disasters, large-scale accidents, or threats to life and safety.
Messages can be broadcast in three formats: full-screen alerts replacing all other content, text banners supplementing full-screen warnings, or scrolling text bars appearing unobtrusively during standard broadcasts.
The alerts will override all scheduled programming, including overnight content, to ensure maximum visibility. In cases of declared emergencies, THMP is authorized to suspend advertising content in the public interest.
Enhancing urban resilience and public trust
City officials stress the importance of accessible and credible information during emergencies. Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda praised the project as a step toward a more modern and responsive city.
"The capital must be able to react quickly and accurately in crisis situations," Svoboda said. "This functionality gives us a new tool to inform residents and visitors immediately and effectively about threats that could impact their safety."
Michal Hroza, City Councillor for Infrastructure, emphasized that clear communication builds public trust. He also noted that the system was designed with user experience in mind.
“Informing people about imminent danger isn’t just a duty—it’s essential to protecting the public,” Hroza said. “Good crisis communication helps reduce panic and supports coordinated responses.”
“We created an intuitive interface that enables fast decision-making under pressure. The goal was to make deploying an emergency message as straightforward as possible, even during stressful, time-critical situations.”
The City Information Channel has traditionally been used for news, cultural tips, and promotional content. With this new function, the platform becomes a key element of Prague’s emergency readiness infrastructure—capable of instantly reaching thousands of people where they are most likely to be: at tram and bus stops across the city.
The system is part of broader efforts to make urban technology serve public well-being beyond commercial use. While the new crisis communication feature will remain invisible most of the time, officials hope that when it is needed, it will deliver potentially lifesaving information to the public with speed, clarity, and impact.
More information and any emergency warnings currently in effect can be found at Prague's dedicated security website.
