Somebody’s watching me – Adventures in Cellular Location services

A cellular network engineer explains how mobile networks locate phones, covering four levels of accuracy: tracking area, Cell ID (CGI), GNSS LPP positioning, and OTDOA (time difference of arrival). Each method is explained with real-world context, including how law enforcement accesses location data via Diameter interfaces, how engineers use network portals, and what the actual 3GPP signaling looks like. A recent O2/Mavenir IMS misconfiguration leaking CGI data is also referenced. The post demystifies common misconceptions about 'pinging cell towers' using publicly available standards.