In a cellular radio communication system, at least one locating measuring signal is emitted by at least one additional positioning element from at least one radio cell. According to the invention, each positioning element monitors the radio signalizing on the common air interface of the respective base station to see whether a positioning inquiry signal is emitted to said station and/or from said station. When detecting a positioning inquiry signal of said type, a monitoring positioning element of said type independently inserts at least one locating measuring signal into at least one free signal section of the radio signaling.