Almaty tests new rescue system for tourists in mountains without mobile coverage
Almaty is testing AG Tag, a device that allows tourists to send an SOS signal and share their location with rescuers, even in areas without internet or cellular coverage.
The system has already been tested on six mountain trails. A pilot involving tourists and climbers is planned before the end of 2026, according to the Almaty Mayor’s Office.
The system is being developed by AG Digital KZ in cooperation with the Almaty Department of Digitalization. It is designed to locate people in remote areas where a regular mobile phone may prove useless.
According to rescue services, more than 1,000 search and rescue operations are carried out in the mountains around Almaty every year. At the same time, many popular tourist trails have no cellular coverage, making it more difficult to locate people and provide assistance.
How the new system works
AG Tag is a small personal device equipped with an SOS button. It determines a person’s location using satellite navigation and transmits the coordinates to the rescue service’s base station via a radio channel.
In an emergency, a tourist only needs to press the SOS button. The signal will reach an on-duty officer, who will be able to see the person’s location on a digital map.
Coordinates are updated every two seconds, while the signal transmission range is claimed to be up to 15 kilometers. The device itself requires neither a SIM card nor an internet connection.
The system also allows rescuers to monitor the connection to the device. If the signal is lost, the map retains the tourist’s last known location. The base station can operate autonomously, without an internet connection or cellular network coverage.
Where tourists can get AG Tag
The city plans to establish 12 device pickup points at popular tourist destinations across Almaty. These include Alma-Arasan Gorge, Ayusai Gorge, Medeu, Kimasar Gorge, Kok-Zhailau Plateau, Butakovsky Gorge and Shymbulak.
A registration process through eGov Mobile, a government services app, is currently under development. Under the proposed system, tourists will be able to enter their planned route and expected return time before setting off, and then collect an AG Tag using a QR code.
The device must be returned after the hike.
The pickup procedure is still under development. The mayor’s office did not clarify whether the devices will be available for free or when exactly the pickup points will open.
Where the system has already been tested
The developers tested AG Tag on six mountain trails around Almaty, including routes near Tourist Peak, Panorama Peak, Boukreev Peak and Furmanov Peak, as well as Big Almaty Lake.
The tests were conducted under various weather conditions, including in high-altitude areas. The tests were conducted under various weather conditions, including in high-altitude areas. Local and national rescue teams took part in the trials.
The mayor’s office said the tests confirmed that the system worked, including in areas without cellular coverage.
The first batch of devices has been produced for further testing. A pilot project involving tourists and mountaineering communities is expected to launch before the end of 2026.
In the future, the technology is expected to be used not only in the mountains around Almaty but also in other tourist destinations and remote areas across Kazakhstan.
