Dear IoT experts, I run into a problem about setting APN in IoT devices... We know that a correct access point name (APN) is needed to be set on a mobile phone or IoT device in order for the device to get mobile data access. The APN should already be present in device's database, while inserting a SIM card on the device will enable the device to check the "APN Control List" on the SIM to select the right APN. Otherwise, just like we are doing on the travelling SIM, we need to manually input the APN on the our phones. There are a few questions: IoT devices are typically not big brands like our mobile phones. How would the devices have the correct list of APN? And often we wish to have private APN for specific purpose. We are also talking about thousands of IoT devices, so if we need to update the APN of the devices, is there an effective way to do so? The IoT devices would also be roaming. I think there is a way to "convert" the APN while at home network, but it seems difficult to do so while the device is roamed elsewhere. Any idea to solve the roaming case? Kindly correct me if any of my thinking above is wrong. Appreciate any advice. Thanks! BR// Dominic

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APN setting in IoT devices?

Dear IoT experts,

I run into a problem about setting APN in IoT devices...

We know that a correct access point name (APN) is needed to be set on a mobile phone or IoT device in order for the device to get mobile data access. The APN should already be present in device's database, while inserting a SIM card on the device will enable the device to check the "APN Control List" on the SIM to select the right APN. Otherwise, just like we are doing on the travelling SIM, we need to manually input the APN on the our phones.

There are a few questions:

IoT devices are typically not big brands like our mobile phones. How would the devices have the correct list of APN? And often we wish to have private APN for specific purpose.

We are also talking about thousands of IoT devices, so if we need to update the APN of the devices, is there an effective way to do so?

The IoT devices would also be roaming. I think there is a way to "convert" the APN while at home network, but it seems difficult to do so while the device is roamed elsewhere. Any idea to solve the roaming case?

Kindly correct me if any of my thinking above is wrong. Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

BR// Dominic

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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

I'd agree with previous comments. However for IoT devices I don't think it is common for MNOs to set APNs in the device, as this requires tight coupling of USIM on the device with its other modules. Usually these devices' backend server will do such APN reconfiguration, via SMS or packet connection (may be set up with an initial default APN).

I think your enterprise customer may not have a deep engineering knowledge for such OTA configurations. Or they may have outsourced the IoT device and network operations. So they feel uncomfortable to change it. If it is true I'd suggest to engage with your customer's operation or product team, who can loop in the device manufacturer to tell what is the designed way to update APNs.

Regards

Yalou
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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

I'd agree with previous comments. However for IoT devices I don't think it is common for MNOs to set APNs in the device, as this requires tight coupling of USIM on the device with its other modules. Usually these devices' backend server will do such APN reconfiguration, via SMS or packet connection (may be set up with an initial default APN).

I think your enterprise customer may not have a deep engineering knowledge for such OTA configurations. Or they may have outsourced the IoT device and network operations. So they feel uncomfortable to change it. If it is true I'd suggest to engage with your customer's operation or product team, who can loop in the device manufacturer to tell what is the designed way to update APNs.

Regards

Yalou
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Vote Up 0 Vote Down

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APN setting in IoT devices?

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