Russia’s Smart Intercoms Are Becoming Emergency Broadcast Systems

When missiles threaten or fires break out, the alert might come from your front door.

In Russia, smart intercoms are evolving beyond basic door access to become real-time emergency communication tools — alerting citizens to missile threats, fires, and other crises using a tri-layered system of voice and visual warnings.

These upgraded devices don’t just buzz your neighbor in anymore. In an emergency, they simultaneously broadcast alerts in three ways: through a speaker on the building’s entry panel, through voice messages over in-home intercom handsets, and via text displayed on the panel’s screen. The system is designed to reach everyone — even those who aren’t glued to their phones.

And it’s not just about warnings. During a fire, for example, emergency officials can use a centralized dispatch system to deliver live evacuation instructions building-wide. At the same time, the smart intercom can automatically unlock entry doors to speed up escape and emergency response. “This kind of integration can save lives,” said Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, where the system is already in operation.

For everyday safety, residents can hit an SOS button on the intercom to instantly summon medical, rescue, or police services to their doorstep. And yes — there’s an app for that, too. Families with kids or elderly relatives can unlock the building remotely with a smartphone, adding a new layer of convenience to an already feature-rich system.

Best of all? The retrofit is seamless. These smart intercoms work with existing in-home hardware and require no new wiring. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes upgrade that redefines public safety infrastructure — one doorbell at a time.