Cellular device geolocation based on timing advance data

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, by a processing system including a processor of a network device of a network, timing advance data regarding a communication device, wherein the timing advance data is obtained via control-plane signaling by the communication device in a network registration procedure;

processing, by the processing system, the timing advance data to determine a geolocation of the communication device;

storing, by the processing system, the geolocation at a storage device of the network; and

providing, by the processing system, the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer communicating on the network,

wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing advance data is processed using location data regarding a network element coupled to the network device and communicating with the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the equipment of the network customer is provided the geolocation by accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing advance data is not provided to the equipment of the network customer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing advance data is collected by a plurality of Evolved Node Bs (eNodeBs), and wherein the processing the timing advance data comprises aggregating data from each of the plurality of eNodeBs.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device initiates a random access procedure to obtain network services.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device comprises a mobile network operator (MNO) providing the geolocation as a monetized service.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the processing system, a network identifier to the communication device; and

authenticating, by the processing system, the communication device using the network identifier.

10. A device comprising:

a processing system of a network device of a network, the processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining timing advance data regarding a communication device, wherein the timing advance data is obtained via control-plane signaling by the communication device in a network registration procedure;

processing the timing advance data to determine a geolocation of the communication device;

storing the geolocation at a storage device; and

providing the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer communicating on the network,

wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the timing advance data is processed using location data regarding a network element coupled to the network device and communicating with the communication device.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the equipment of the network customer is provided the geolocation by accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the network device comprises a mobile network operator (MNO) providing the geolocation as a monetized service.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a network identifier to the communication device; and

authenticating the communication device using the network identifier.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor of a network device, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

obtaining timing advance data regarding a communication device, wherein the timing advance data is obtained via control-plane signaling by the communication device in a network registration procedure of a network;

providing a network identifier to the communication device;

processing the timing advance data to determine a geolocation of the communication device;

storing the geolocation; and

providing the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer communicating on the network,

wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the timing advance data is processed using location data regarding a network element coupled to the network device and communicating with the communication device.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the geolocation is stored at a storage device of the network, and wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the equipment of the network customer is provided the geolocation by accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the communication device using the network identifier.