Global telecom equipment company Ericsson said on Sunday it is introducing a '5G Advanced Location Service' based on 5G standalone (SA) networks.

The service is designed to enhance location-based services (LBS) across commercial 5G SA networks. It features accuracy of under 10 cm outdoors and under 1 m indoors. It uses real-time kinematic (RTK) technology outdoors and an Ericsson in-house solution indoors.

It will be built as a scalable, fully integrated solution on Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core. Ericsson explained that by embedding positioning capabilities as a core function of 5G SA networks, precise positioning is possible on all 5G devices without additional sensors or overlay infrastructure.

It also enables services through API integration and network-centric location functions without a separate app on the device. It also improved battery life compared with satellite-based methods.

Ericsson expects the service will allow communications service providers (CSP) to monetise precise location services and expand into industries including manufacturing, healthcare, public safety, automotive and drones. Ericsson's 5G Advanced Location Service is scheduled to be commercialised from the first quarter of this year.

Monica Zethzon (모니카 제트존), head of Ericsson's Core Networks, said, "With the launch of the 5G Advanced Location Service, we will raise the value of 5G SA networks by another step." She added, "We will support operators so they can create differentiated services based on location capabilities."