A method and apparatus are provided for timed estimation-based positioning of a user equipment in LTE systems. The method includes estimating, by a mobile node, a plurality of reference signal time differences (RSTD) between the mobile node and a network node. The plurality of RSTD estimates define a first correlator. The method further includes determining a second correlator of RSTD estimates, and defining the second correlator with the first correlator based on a mean of the plurality of RSTD estimates. Further, the method includes determining a distribution of the plurality of RSTD estimates, and grouping clusters of RSTD estimates in the distribution. Additionally, the method includes selecting a cluster from the clusters of RSTD estimates. The cluster includes RSTD estimates closest to a center of the second correlator. The cluster is transmitted, by the mobile node, to the network node for positioning the mobile node in a communications network.