What is an APN?

An APN (Access Point Name) is a gateway that enables your IoT device to connect to the public or private internet via a mobile network. In order for a connection to be established, an APN must be configured into your device so that it can be presented to the network carrier. If you are setting up a device with a brand new IoT SIM card, your connectivity provider will usually send you a configuration message detailing your APN credentials.

An APN usually consists of two pieces of information, a network identifier and an operator identifier. The network identifier outlines the external network that your device will connect to, and the operator identifier outlines the mobile country code (MCC) and the mobile network code (MNC) for the specific mobile network operator it will use.

Here is how an APN is usually structured:
networkidentifier.mnc(mnc).mcc(mcc).gprs

Here is an example of a real-world APN:
internet.mnc012.mcc345.gprs

However, not all APNs follow this format, some are much more simple.

For example:
internet.t-mobile

Access point names are structured like this to provide mobile network operators with all the information they need to:

• Determine which methods of security should be used.
• Determine which network the device needs to connect to.
• Assign the correct IP address to the device.

An APN (Access Point Name) is a gateway that enables your IoT device to connect to the public or private internet via a mobile network. In order for a connection to be established, an APN must be configured into your device so that it can be presented to the network carrier. If you are setting up a device with a brand new IoT SIM card, your connectivity provider will usually send you a configuration message detailing your APN credentials.

When you’re running a business, you need reliable connectivity that doesn’t compromise your security. Private APNs ensure that your data stays within your private network and out of reach of cybercriminals looking to intercept valuable information. Private access point names are especially useful if you have a number of devices deployed around the globe. A multi-network roaming M2M SIM combined with private APN access enables your IoT devices to access your company network safely and securely from anywhere there’s a connection.