The powerful frequencies of pager devices are attracting attention as an improved means of disseminating emergency information to the public when disasters occur.
Since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the Tohoku region, a growing number of municipalities have been making use of the frequency bands used by pagers. The strength of these bands means signals can be received even inside buildings and in underground locations.
Pagers were especially popular among younger people in the 1990s, but their use sharply declined over the years due to the popularity of mobile phones and the personal handyphone system, or PHS.