Explore how to use different types of APNs to meet specific technical requirements. Below are examples to clarify what differs between APN types and when they are typically used.
Use Case for a Standard Internet APN Solution
A manufacturer has a product deployed across Europe. The product measures air pressure in city centres, consumes low amounts of data twice a day, and transmits to a cloud service. Data is not considered sensitive, and the device supports encryption to the cloud service.
Solution
In this case, a Standard internet APN is a good choice. There is no need for firewall rules or additional services. Data enters the mobile network and, when reaching Telenor IoT’s core sites in either Stockholm or Amsterdam, it gets unrestricted access to the internet on its way to the destination.
Use Case for a Customised APN Solution
A company has deployed EV charging stations in Europe and North America. Payment traffic is sent from the charging station, but the device also displays advertising. The operator wants to restrict the number of IP addresses the terminal can communicate with and limit traffic to certain ports.
Solution
A Customised APN provides a unique APN name and the ability to whitelist traffic, meaning communication is only allowed with specified IP addresses and ports. One limitation is that it only supports blocking IP addresses and not domains.
Use Case for a Private APN with VPN and/or Internet Breakout
A company provides security cameras. Footage must be sent to the company’s own data centre and requires a high level of security. Firmware updates come from a cloud service, and the company wants update traffic to route directly rather than via their data centre.
Solution
For footage transfer, a Private APN with VPN provides a secure path to the company’s data centre. For firmware updates, Internet Breakout can be used so that the device reaches the cloud service through the internet. If the requirement is to allow access only to a specific cloud service domain, that can be implemented via whitelisting in the firewall.
Use Case for Global APN With Regional PoPs (Payment Terminals)
A company operates payment terminals across multiple regions. Each terminal needs to process card or mobile wallet transactions locally, perform encryption and validation, and send only the required data to a payment gateway. Because transactions are time-sensitive, the business wants a predictable end-user experience even as devices are deployed or moved between regions.
Solution
Using the Global APN enables the entire fleet to use a single APN name worldwide. When a device starts a data session, it automatically connects to the geographically closest Point of Presence (PoP), improving the data path for latency‑sensitive transactions and removing the need for region‑specific APNs.
Performance remains best‑effort and may vary by region and network conditions.
