Also, the antenna array is configured in such a way as to be able to steer the beam. Coincidence? I doubt it.
This makes it possible to locate an individual phone within 1-3 meters. Ideal to know where every person is. There was no compelling reason to deploy 5G networks. 4G was plenty fast. Yet there was an enormous push to switch to 5G.
This level of "accuracy" in locating a phone/individual by beam steering is highly dependent on how many devices a tower is servicing. Beam steering quickly loses any kind of tightness in the signal focus when just two devices are using the tower. More devices on the tower and it is only able to work omnidirectionally so there is no beam forming at all. But even with just one device, the formed beam is more like the headlights of your car than a laser. That's not very accurate for measuring/tracking.
You're being tracked by your phone, but it's not with cell signal beams. They can locate you very accurately with modern augmented GPS. The rest is just cameras and microphones.
(post is archived)