Combain 5G Positioning Engine – Advanced 5G Location Management
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine is a state-of-the-art location calculation engine designed for the 5G Location Management Function (LMF) within 5G core networks. The LMF offers an advanced solution for precise indoor and outdoor positioning by utilizing the high-speed and low-latency features of 5G networks. This function delivers real-time and accurate location information, making it suitable for various applications.
Reference Case
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine provides the 5G Location Management Function (LMF) within Druid Software’s Raemis 4G/5G core platform.
How it works
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine calculates device locations by leveraging multiple 5G-based positioning methods integrated into the 5G core network. The methods current version supports include:
- Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDOA) – Measures the device SRS signal arrival times at multiple base stations to determine location.
- Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA) – Measures base stations PRS signal arrival times in the device to determine location.
- Round Trip Time (RTT) and Multi-Cell RTT – Uses device time delay measurements to each base station for precise distance calculations.
- E-CID with global roaming – Uses serving cell id together with Combain Location API to enable global positioning, not just in own network.
Future enhancements
- Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) – Determines directionality using multi-antenna arrays.
- BLE & WiFi – Accurate indoor positioning that complement 5G methods using Combain AI Indoor algorithms.
- mmWawe – Larger bandwidths available at higher frequencies enable cm accuracy.
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine processes these measurements within the 5G LMF, applies advanced location algorithms, and delivers real-time position data to applications and services.
For devices moving outside a private network, the engine seamlessly integrates with Combain’s global Cell ID positioning database, ensuring continuous tracking without the need for GNSS.
Key Features
- Precise Location: The LMF provides accurate location information in real-time, with an average accuracy of less than 1 meter. This makes it suitable for use in indoor and outdoor environments, providing precise location tracking for people, vehicles, and assets.
- Low Latency: With 5G networks, the LMF provides extremely low latency and real-time location information, making it ideal for real-time applications such as vehicle tracking and safety alerts.
- Increased Capacity: The LMF can support a large number of devices and users, making it suitable for use in large-scale deployments such as smart cities, campus networks, and industrial parks.
- Integration with 5G Core Networks: To fully implement the 5G LMF, Combain’s 5G Positioning Engine requires only a wrapper to translate commands between the core network and the positioning engine.
- Integration with Asset Tracking Systems: Combain also offers an IoT asset tracking system, Traxmate, to create a complete asset tracking solution for private networks. Learn more at traxmate.io.
- Global E-CID Positioning Option: If devices are roaming outside the private network, the LMF can seamlessly track them globally using Combain’s global positioning capabilities.
5G positioning simulation
Warehouse test site
- 800m2 (30x60m)
- 4 base stations in the corners
- Only using DL-OTDOA
- Adding time measurement noise, stddev 3ns
- Adding reflections from
floor and walls - No filtering or history use
Results and Findings
- 1.0m median error
- Good network planning is required for good positioning performance:
- at least four base stations (more is better)
- Placed at the walls, not at the center
- Directional antennas
- Line-of-sight (LOS)
Advantages of 5G Positioning over 4G
The positioning accuracy is vastly improved in 5G with new features defined in 3GPP Release 16. Here are just some of the improvements:
- New positioning methods. 4G mainly uses time difference of arrival (TDOA). At the same time, 5G has added new methods such as downlink TDOA and multi-cell round trip time (Multi RTT), removing the requirement for very accurately synchronized base stations.
- A larger bandwidth, 100/400MHz vs. 20MHz, reduces symbol time and enhances the accuracy of measured time of flight between the base station and the device for both TDOA and RTT measurements.
- New reference signals have been introduced for 5G: a positioning reference signal (PRS) in the downlink and a sounding reference signal (SRS) for the uplink. These signals provide higher accuracy, coverage, and interference avoidance.
- Multiple antennas. There are 5G supports for both angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) measurements. These are not so accurate in today’s first base station antennas, but positioning accuracy will improve with future massive MIMO antennas.
The LMF plays a crucial role in 5G networks, enabling various location-based services and efficiently managing a device’s location.
Accuracy <1m achievable
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine is engineered to deliver sub-meter accuracy in well-calibrated environments. Utilizing TDOA, Multi-RTT, and PRS signals can achieve an accuracy of less than one meter for indoor settings and GNSS-level precision outdoors under good network conditions. This capability makes it a strong alternative to GNSS, particularly in urban canyons, dense industrial areas, and indoor facilities where satellite signals have difficulty penetrating.
Several factors influence accuracy, including the density of network infrastructure, line of sight (LOS), time synchronization of base stations, antenna configurations, and environmental interference. With the upcoming deployment of mmWave and massive MIMO technology in 5G, we anticipate a significant improvement in positioning accuracy, reducing latency and minimizing error margins.
5G positioning using real data at Fraunhofer lab
Nurnberg test site
- 260 m2 (12x22m)
- 8 base stations
- Only using UL-TDOA
- Kalman filter being used
Result: 0.4m median error
(0.6m median error without Kalman)
Implementation Costs
The cost of implementing the Combain 5G Positioning Engine depends on several factors, including the size of the network, the existing hardware infrastructure, and the required level of positioning accuracy.
- Existing 5G Private Network: If a private 5G network is already operational—such as in smart factories or industrial campuses—integrating the 5G Location Management Function (LMF) requires minimal additional investment. The positioning engine is software-based, installed on same server as the 5G core and can utilize existing base stations. Accuracy may however suffer as the required densitity of base stations is higher for accurate 5G positioning.
- New Deployments: Companies establishing 5G positioning from the ground up will incur costs for 5G core integration, additional base stations to enhance accuracy, and calibration efforts. Higher network density typically results in improved accuracy, but it also leads to increased initial capital expenditures.
- Cloud vs. On-Premises Deployment: The Combain 5G Positioning Engine can be deployed on-premises—suitable for data-sensitive industries such as defense, healthcare, and critical infrastructure—or a cloud-based service. The latter option reduces the need for costly on-site maintenance.
- Operational Costs: Ongoing expenses include network management, software updates, and potential expansions. However, since 5G positioning eliminates the need for additional GNSS receivers, companies can lower hardware costs while increasing location accuracy and maintaining low latency.
Use Cases
- Asset Tracking: The LMF is ideal for tracking the location of assets such as containers, equipment, and inventory in real-time.
- Industry 4.0: The LMF can be used in industrial parks to track the location of vehicles and assets, improving efficiency.
- Security & Emergency Services: The LMF can be used by security personnel to locate people and assets in real time for improved safety.
- Campus Networks: The LMF can be used to create smart campuses, provide real-time location information for vehicles, people, and assets, and create new location-based services.
The Future of Location Tracking with 5G
The Combain 5G Positioning Engine transforms location intelligence for private networks through high precision, low latency, and seamless integration. Whether for smart factories, autonomous systems, or critical safety applications, 5G positioning represents the next generation of solutions for real-time tracking.
Ready to upgrade your private network with advanced 5G positioning?
Contact us today to learn more!
Installed on your serversKeep your own location data safe
High performance for high volume and low latency
Enhanced accurate indoor positioning with global positioning option when roaming
Summary
- Positioning engine for 5G networks
- <1m* accuracy with new 5G positioning methods
- Global positioning option when roaming
* Actual accuracy depends on
- density of network infrastructure
- number of synchronized base stations
- antenna configurations
- environmental interference