• The Release 16 trial achieved stable outdoor accuracy below 30 centimetres using a handset's built-in antenna on a commercial 5G network
  • Ericsson carried GNSS RTK correction data through its 5G core and RAN, testing both unicast and broadcast delivery to devices

The fact

Ericsson and MediaTek have completed an end-to-end test of high-precision outdoor positioning over a commercial 5G network using 3GPP Release 16 Global Navigation Satellite System Real-Time Kinematic technology. Ericsson said the system maintained accuracy below 30 centimetres using a handset's built-in antenna.

The test used Ericsson's 5G Core, Ericsson Network Location and radio access network to distribute GNSS correction data to a device using MediaTek's latest 5G modem technology. Unicast corrections were delivered through the LTE Positioning Protocol over standard IP connections, while broadcast corrections used Positioning System Information Blocks to reach devices across a cell. Ericsson launched its 5G Advanced Location Services in January, saying the offering would be commercially available from the first quarter of 2026.

The assessment

Precise positioning is not being generated by 5G in this test; the network is distributing the corrections that make GNSS more accurate. RTK depends on correction data from reference stations, and Ericsson has shown that those corrections can pass through standard 5G core and radio functions to a handset rather than requiring a separate delivery path. Broadcast delivery can send the same correction information across a cell, while unicast can target individual devices, giving operators two ways to carry the data.

For BTW readers, the unanswered issue is whether the same accuracy can be maintained in live operations. Operators would have to support the correction data across their networks, while compatible devices would need to process it consistently as usage increases. Ericsson and MediaTek have shown that the end-to-end chain can deliver sub-30cm accuracy; deployments in ports, factories, vehicles or drones would provide the evidence for how well it holds under normal operating conditions.

What to watch

Watch for commercial operator deployments of Ericsson's 5G Advanced Location Services with MediaTek or other compatible devices. Multi-device field tests that report accuracy under load, particularly using broadcast delivery, would test how the system performs beyond the demonstration. Multi-vendor trials and deployments in ports, logistics, manufacturing or vehicle applications would provide further evidence of operational adoption.