Techniques are provided for positioning of a mobile device in a wireless network using directional positioning reference signals (PRS), also referred to as PRS beamforming. In an example method, a plurality of directional PRSs are generated for at least one cell for a base station, such that each of the plurality of directional PRSs comprises at least one signal characteristic and a direction of transmission, either or both of which may be distinct or unique. The plurality of directional PRSs is transmitted within the at least one cell, such that each of the plurality of directional PRSs is transmitted in the direction of transmission. A mobile device may acquire and measure at least one of the directional PRSs which may be identified using the associated signal characteristic. The measurement may be used to assist position methods such as OTDOA and ECID and to mitigate multipath.