AT&T rolls out location tracking on emergency calls from Minnesota cellphones

The No. 3 mobile carrier will now use GPS signals to spot callers to 911 systems

May 12, 20220

Christian Hansen | New York Times count

AT&T's network in Minnesota and nearby states now uses GPS to pinpoint the location of callers to emergency services. File photo of an AT&T store.

AT&T Co. rolled out a system in Minnesota and nearby states this week to more accurately pinpoint callers to 911 and alert the nearest emergency service.

The company, which operates the nation's third-largest mobile network by subscribers, worked with Intrado Corp. to pick up GPS signals from cellphones calling 911 to route the call to the correct emergency center.

GPS signals can be tracked down to about a 50-yard radius, giving emergency responders a better read on where callers are. Previously, calls on 911 relied on location data from cell towers, which have a signal radius of up to 10 miles.

https://www.startribune.com/at-t-rolls-out-location-tracking-on-emergency-calls-from-minnesota-cellphones/600172467/