Tracking Mobile for investigating criminal cases

        A mobile cellular system such as Idea or Airtel is primarily meant for providing communication to people on the move that is why it is called mobile communication network. In a mobile network, except the subscriber's handset which is called a mobile station(MS) all network systems such as Base Transceiver Station(BTS) base station controller(BSC) and mobile switching center(MSC) are fixed installations. A mobile subscriber(MS) can be anywhere at any time. But the mobile network must know where the mobile subscriber is. This is to facilitate routing the call to the MS whenever there is a call coming for the subscriber. Therefore, by design, the mobile station is programmed to intimate its own MSC where mobile is switched on. This information is known as Location Updating.

     

        When a subscriber number is known and the subscriber switch on the mobile station, the location updating takes place and the network knows where the mobile is and under which BTS it is located. The information is passed to the investigating agencies by the network operator. This way, the mobile can be tracked for investigations.