Access Point Name
An Access Point Name (APN) is a configurable label that identifies a gateway—such as a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in GPRS/UMTS networks or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) in LTE (and non-standalone 5G) systems—between a mobile network and an external packet data network; in standalone 5G, the equivalent is the Data Network Name (DNN) identifying gateways like the Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF), enabling user equipment (UE) to establish packet data protocol (PDP) contexts in 2G/3G networks, packet data network (PDN) connections in 4G, or protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in 5G for services like internet access or multimedia messaging.[1] The APN structure follows Internet domain naming conventions, consisting of a mandatory Network Identifier (APN-NI) that specifies the external network or service (e.g., "internet") and an optional Operator Identifier (APN-OI) that denotes the public land mobile network (PLMN) in the format "mncIntroduction
Definition and Purpose
An Access Point Name (APN) serves as a configurable gateway that connects a mobile network—such as those based on GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G (EPS), or 5G—to external packet data networks (PDNs), including the public Internet.[1] In this role, the APN acts as a logical reference to a gateway node, such as the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in GPRS or the Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) in the Evolved Packet System (EPS), enabling user equipment (UE) like smartphones or IoT devices to establish data sessions.[1] This gateway functionality is resolved via DNS translation from the APN to the actual IP address of the gateway, supporting seamless connectivity across different network generations.[1] The primary purpose of an APN is to specify critical parameters for data connectivity, including IP address allocation (IPv4 or IPv6), security protocols for authentication and encryption, and the type of connection established for the UE.[1] By defining these elements, the APN ensures that data traffic is routed appropriately to the intended PDN, while also facilitating features like inter-PLMN roaming and emergency services.[1] In 3GPP standards, the APN functions as a logical identifier for a PDN, distinct from physical gateways, allowing operators to manage multiple virtual connections over shared infrastructure without altering hardware.[1] APNs enable a range of services by directing UE to specific PDNs tailored to the use case. For instance, a general Internet access APN, such as "internet", connects users to the public web with standard IP allocation and basic security.[1] Specialized APNs support multimedia messaging service (MMS) for sending rich media over cellular networks or corporate VPNs for secure, private access to enterprise resources, each with customized authentication mechanisms and connection profiles.[3]Historical Development
The Access Point Name (APN) originated in the late 1990s as a key component of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which extended the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) to support packet-switched data services. Introduced to enable mobile devices to connect to external packet data networks via the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), the APN served as a logical identifier for routing user data from the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) to specific external networks or services. This enhancement addressed the limitations of circuit-switched GSM by facilitating always-on data connectivity, with the APN allowing differentiation of access points for services like internet or corporate intranets.[4][5] Standardization of the APN began under the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with Release 97 in 1998, where it was defined in specifications such as TS 09.60 for GPRS Tunnelling Protocol interfaces. The APN was formalized as a reference to the GGSN in the GPRS backbone, comprising a network identifier for the external network and an optional operator identifier for the public land mobile network (PLMN), with a maximum length of 100 octets following DNS label syntax. Subsequent 3GPP releases built on this foundation: Release 99 (1999) integrated APN support into Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) for 3G, enhancing it for higher-speed packet data; Release 8 (2008) adapted it for Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), where APN selection influenced Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) routing. A pivotal milestone was the inclusion of APN in 3GPP TS 23.003, which standardized numbering and identification, including APN as a core element for network selection across generations.[5][4][3] In LTE and beyond, the APN evolved from a simple string identifier to support Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) resolution for improved DNS-based selection of core network elements like the PGW, as specified in TS 23.003 subclause 19.4.3, using formats such asTechnical Specifications
Structure and Format
The Access Point Name (APN) is structured as a fully qualified domain name (FQDN)-like string, comprising a mandatory APN Network Identifier (APN-NI) optionally followed by an APN Operator Identifier (APN-OI), with components separated by dots. The APN-NI specifies the external packet data network (PDN) or service, such as "internet" for general internet access, while the APN-OI identifies the operator's network using the Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) in the format "mnc| Component | Description | Example | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| APN-NI | Network Identifier for PDN/service | "internet" | 1+ labels, max 63 octets; alphanumeric + hyphens; no reserved prefixes/suffixes |
| APN-OI | Operator Identifier for PLMN | "mnc012.mcc345.gprs" | Fixed format with 3-digit padded MNC/MCC; optional |
| Full APN | Combined string | "internet.mnc012.mcc345.gprs" | Max 100 octets total; case-insensitive; no wildcards |