How does 5G positioning work?

The Federal Communications Commission is set to approve a new 5G cellular network despite claims from the Department of Defense that it will interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) services .

5G Offers Larger Bandwidths and Frequencies Examples are enhanced Cell-ID and TDOA-based approaches. In enhanced Cell-ID, end devices monitor their proximity to multiple base stations, measuring signal strength and approximate propagation time to the device.2 Nis 2019

“The benefit of 5G will be seen in the long term, when 5G ranging capability is available. Hybrid positioning algorithms using both 5G and GNSS observations will provide significant positioning benefits in challenging urban environments and seamless navigation between indoor and outdoor environments .

The security benefits you miss while on a non-standalone 5G network extend beyond stingrays. You’re potentially susceptible to tracking, eavesdropping, and so-called “downgrade attacks” that push target devices onto older, more vulnerable data networks like 3G .