When you open a maps app or use a web-based speedometer, you often see the term "GPS". However, modern devices actually use a much broader system known as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). Let's break down how this invisible network powers real-time telemetry.
GNSS is the standard generic term for satellite navigation systems that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. While "GPS" is the most famous, it is just one of several constellations orbiting the Earth.
When you grant location permissions to an app like Live GPS Telemetry, your device's internal receiver listens for radio signals from multiple satellites simultaneously. By calculating the exact time it takes for these signals to reach your phone (down to the nanosecond), the device triangulates your exact coordinates on the globe.
Because modern browsers access hardware-level APIs, web applications can now utilize multi-constellation GNSS data directly, providing sub-meter accuracy without the need to install heavy native applications.