One common misconception is that a SIM card is required for your phone to connect to cell towers. However, the truth is that your phone can still establish a connection with cell towers even without a SIM card inserted.
The primary function of a SIM card is for authentication to the network. When you insert a SIM card into your device, it contains unique information that allows your phone to identify and authenticate itself on the network. This process enables you to make calls, send messages, and access mobile data services.
Even without a SIM card, your phone can still establish a connection with nearby cell towers to receive signals and communicate with the network. One way to control your phone's connections to cell towers is by enabling airplane mode. Enabling airplane mode on your device can serve as a ~privacy enhancing measure by disabling connections to cell towers.
TL;DR
Your phone device connects to cell towers even without a SIM card inserted.
A SIM card is only used for authentication to the network. ๐ก
You can disable connections to cell towers by enabling airplane mode. โ๏ธ
Wifi enabled
, networks can still triangulate your location based upon available home/public networks it is pinging. And historical networks you have connected to.Wifi disabled
, most operating systems will still log your location and still receive some GPS/radio signals. GPS or location services need to also be disabled to prevent this.