Why IP Geolocation is Often Inaccurate: The Database Problem

It is the most common support ticket: "My IP shows the wrong city!" Users think GPS is involved. It isn't. IP Geolocation is a guessing game based on databases.

1. How GeoIP Actually Works

Companies like MaxMind buy data from ISPs and aggregate it. When an ISP re-routes an IP block, the database doesn't know until the next update cycle (weeks later).

2. Mobile Carrier NAT (CGNAT)

On mobile, all traffic exits from a few central gateways. You might be physically in Antalya, but your packet exits the carrier's network in Istanbul.