A SIM card is a microchip that needs to be inserted into your phone to activate the services from your mobile phone service provider. Ideally, a SIM card is used to connect your phone with the parent network. Incidentally, through this only you can connect to the internet as well. While SIM card is a prime element for your phone to function to make calls and send/receive texts, it might not be required to use your phone to make emergency calls as well. Well, it is so true that your phone is functional even if the SIM card is not working.
Of course, as you call your family or friend through your cellphone, the SIM card shall connect with the respective tower near your place and connects with the person’s tower whom you have called. Then the connection establishes and you begin to talk. But when the SIM card is not functioning or there is no network coverage at all?
Quick Note: If you are in an emergency situation you can call 112 which is a common emergency number in many countries.
Have you ever come across a situation where you go to a place, and you find there is no network coverage on your phone at all? Of course, most of the time, you will panic. You will be worried if you do not find the antenna bar in your cellphone goes blank with no bars on it. At the same time, did you ever notice that in such situations you will have the phone display reading
‘No Network Coverage Emergency Calls Only’
While the SIM card is not working, how can the phone still connect to Emergency calls? This article will help you understand the technology behind the same and help you set free from worry factors.
How Does Emergency Call Service Work?
As people think that the phone has an innovative technology mechanism installed and that helps you connect during an emergency, it is not the case. It is fairly a simple mechanism. As said earlier, your SIM card requires network coverage to establish the connection to talk. It connects with the parent tower and helps you talk over the phone. If there is no signal coverage in your area, your SIM card can still function in connecting the call through other towers. As the service is limited and that is why emergency calls.
The GSM technology that uses the SIM card is designed in such a way that the SIM card can still connect with other tower signals and establish the connection to talk.
As such, if there is no signal coverage, the SIM card searches for the Roaming network. Even if it fails, it still can connect with the tower of other service providers to make calls to the police and other emergency departments.
If the SIM card does not work?
The previous case is when the signal strength is poor or nil. What if your SIM card does not work. Can still emergency calls be made?
The answer is YES.
At this point, you must understand that a SIM card offers just the phone number and the carrier information. For you to make emergency calls, your phone’s antenna is sufficient. That means to say, even if your SIM card does not work, emergency calls can be made. However, the phone number or the location will not be received by the receiving end, but the call to the police can be easily connected.
Police numbers in different countries
Here is a list of the numbers that you can call to reach police in different countries all over the world. It also includes other emergency numbers in different countries. So, if you are in an emergency and doesn’t know which number to call, look in the above Wikipedia link