MobilfunkTriangulation

MobilfunkTriangulation refers to methods used to estimate the position of a mobile device based on signals exchanged with the cellular network. It relies on information from base stations (cell sites), timing measurements, and signal measurements to derive a location without relying on satellite navigation.

The core approaches include trilateration or multilateration using distance estimates to multiple cell towers, often derived from signal strength or path loss models, and timing-based techniques such as Time of Arrival (TOA) or Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA). Angle information, or direction of arrival (DOA), can also contribute when antennas are equipped to estimate the bearing to the device. In practice, networks combine data from several cells to compute a position, sometimes enhanced by fingerprinting, which compares observed radio characteristics with a pre-recorded radio map to improve accuracy.

Accuracy varies with network density, geography, and technology. In urban areas with dense cell deployment and advanced timing methods, positional accuracy can reach tens of meters, while in rural or obstructed environments it often falls to hundreds of meters. Indoor environments, multipath propagation, and clock synchronization issues can further limit precision. GPS or other satellite-based systems may be used in combination to improve reliability and accuracy.

Applications include emergency services location, network optimization, and certain location-based services. Privacy and regulatory considerations are central, as access to location data is subject to legal bases, user consent, and data protection rules. Operators and service providers typically implement safeguards to minimize misuse and protect subscriber privacy.