A cellular communication network has a mobile switching center (MSC) that maintains a GPS location data of a mobile handset referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronic serial number (ESN) in addition to a geographic cell number in an HLR database for handsets operating in the network. The GPS location data of the handset may be used for efficient paging to a specific cell to route incoming calls to the handset, route emergency responder calls with the physical location of the handset and to program the handset with the handset transmission strength to the nearest cell tower In lieu of using triangulation algorithm.