An Access Point Name (APN) is the name of a gateway[1] between a mobile network (GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G and 5G) and another computer network, frequently the public Internet.[2]

A mobile device making a data connection must be configured with an APN to present to the carrier. The carrier will then examine this identifier to determine what type of network connection should be created, for example: which IP addresses should be assigned to the wireless device, which security methods should be used, and how, or if, it should be connected to some private customer network.[3]

More specifically, the APN identifies the packet data network (PDN) that a mobile data user wants to communicate with. In addition to identifying a PDN, an APN may also be used to define the type of service, (e.g. connection to Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) server, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)) that is provided by the PDN. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks, e.g. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), evolved packet core (EPC).

Structure of an APN

Access Point Name structure

A structured APN consists of two parts[4] as shown in the accompanying figure.

  • Network Identifier: Defines the external network to which the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is connected. Optionally, it may also include the service requested by the user. This part of the APN is mandatory
  • Operator Identifier: Defines the specific operator's packet domain network in which the GGSN is located. This part of the APN is optional. The MCC is the mobile country code and the MNC is the mobile network code which together uniquely identify a mobile network operator.

Examples of APN are:

  • three.co.uk (Note: This example APN uses a domain name from the DNS which belongs to the operator)
  • internet.t-mobile
  • internet.mnc012.mcc345.gprs
  • rcomnet.mnc015.mcc405.gprs
  • internet (Note: This APN example does not contain an operator)
  • NXTGENPHONE (Note: Does not contain an operator, however in practice it is AT&T Mobility's LTE APN)
  • VZWINTERNET (Note: No operator, but the APN name clearly identifies Verizon Wireless)
  • mobitel (Note: APN name clearly identifies operator Mobitel)
  • jionet (Note: APN name clearly identifies operator Jio)
  • Ting Data (tethering.dish.com) (Tethering service by Dish Network)

LTE networks use APN-FQDN format, which differs from the 2G/3G format described above as follows. "apn.epc." is inserted before "mnc⟨MNC⟩", and the ".gprs" at the end becomes ".3gppnetwork.org" [5]

For example: the 2G/3G internet.mnc012.mcc345.gprs becomes internet.apn.epc.mnc012.mcc345.3gppnetwork.org .

KPN Incident

In 2023, an incident was discovered where choosing the advancedinternet APN from the ISP KPN drained the battery of smartphones significantly faster. This APN was designed to give internet access without a firewall and public IP adresses.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Qlink Wireless APN Settings for Android & iPhone 2022 - 3G 4G 5G LTE Internet Settings". Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  2. ↑ "APN (Access Point Name) Settings for Android, iOS - 3G 4G 5G LTE Internet Setting". Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. ↑ Bill Word (18 July 2005). "GSM cellular networks use an APN (Access Point Name) to determine how a mobile station, in this case a Digi Connect WAN or RG" (PDF). digi.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  4. ↑ 3GPP TS 23.003 Numbering, addressing and identification.
  5. ↑ etsi.org Domain Name System Procedures (Page 15 / 5.1.1.1).
  6. ↑ "Hoe een tweaker uitploos waarom sommige telefoons op KPN snel leeg gingen". Tweakers (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-09-01.
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