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They’ve been doing this for years. You can also license real-time GPS and WiFi location. Perfect for geotargeted ad campaigns.

Can a telco access those things? My understanding was that this would need to come from the phone’s OS (or an app with appropriate access).

If you’re connected to the cellular network, they know where you are.

They aren't not talking about cell towers like the article mentions. They said GPS.

Many telcos have their own "customized" version of the OS.

How about iOS, can a telco access GPS location if there’s no telco app installed?

At the very least, they can use Cell-ID