- 5G connectivity signals can function as precise positioning sensors
- Location control can move from devices to operators
- Company reports less than 10cm accuracy without new hardware
California startup ZaiNar claims it can deliver high-precision location data using existing 5G networks without relying on GPS satellites.
The company says its system works entirely from the network side, extracting detailed position information from the same signals that devices already send to stay connected.
It says ZaiNar 5G Positioning does not require new chips, firmware updates or cooperation from phone manufacturers.
No more GPS barriers
Unlike traditional 5G positioning techniques that rely on dedicated reference signals, the system uses standard uplink signals that are continuously transmitted by connected phones and devices.
Since these signals are already required for connectivity, the positioning process does not increase battery consumption.
The company reports accuracy of less than 10cm under certain conditions, with coverage extending up to 1.5km using modest spectrum resources.
“The revolutionary application of 5G is finally here, and it’s not a theory, it’s implemented,” said Daniel Jacker, CEO and co-founder of ZaiNar.
“We are demonstrating sub-10cm accuracy in real-world deployments in healthcare, construction, logistics and smart city applications. This technology turns 5G from a faster pipeline to a genuine infrastructure for physical AI.”
Today’s mobile ecosystems are largely controlled by operating systems from companies like Apple and Google, which determine whether location signals can be shared with carriers.
In practice, this has limited the ability of network operators to directly offer precise positioning services.
ZaiNar’s approach returns control to the network by treating positioning as a core infrastructure function rather than a feature of the phone.
If accurate, this change would allow operators and businesses to access location data from phones, vehicles, robots, and industrial devices without application-level permissions.
The company maintains that this reduces dependence on device manufacturers while increasing utility for private networks and industrial deployments.
He adds that this technology does not only operate in digital spaces but also works in real-world environments.
The company maintains that advanced automation requires constant and precise spatial awareness of many moving objects.
GPS tracking often fails in certain scenarios, which is why governments have collaborated to secure GPS for critical infrastructure.
Vision-based positioning systems rely on clear lines of sight, while Bluetooth-based tracking systems are limited by relatively short operating ranges and signal interference.
The company suggests that 5G networks can fill these gaps by acting as a distributed sensing platform.
Commercial deployments are reported in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, construction and smart city projects.
If the technology works as described at scale, it could redefine the way companies track phones and industrial devices across public and private networks.
However, wider adoption will likely depend on transparent testing, regulatory clarity and sustained investment from operators.
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