GPRS Core Network - Access Point

Access Point

An access point is:

• An IP network to which a mobile set can be connected
• A set of settings which are used for that connection
• A particular option in a set of settings in a mobile phone

When a GPRS mobile phone sets up a PDP context, the access point is selected. At this point an Access Point Name (APN) is determined

Example: aricenttechnologies.mnc012.mcc345.gprs

Example: Internet

Example: mywap

Example: hcl.cisco.ggsn

This access point is then used in a DNS query to a private DNS network. This process (called APN resolution) finally gives the IP address of the GGSN which should serve the access point. At this point a PDP context can be activated.