Experimental performance of methods to estimate the location of legacy handsets in GSM

This paper focuses on the location estimation of legacy GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) handsets. Three network-based software location methods using CI (cell identity), TA (timing advance), and RXLEV (received signal strength) information available in GSM are presented and their implementation is discussed. Experimental performance of the methods in a commercial GSM network is presented and a comparative analysis is carried out. It is shown that the location error of the most accurate method tends to scale according to the average cell size.