SIMcontrol has added Telkom to its managed private APN service, which allows businesses to use Vodacom, MTN and Telkom SIMs on the same private network and sharing the same data pool.
A private APN (access point name) is a closed mobile network. Devices on it connect only to approved apps or destinations, not the open internet. It is especially used for secure corporate connectivity and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Why it matters
Companies that deploy hundreds or thousands of connected devices, usually juggle several mobile networks. That means separate engagements, separate contracts, separate bills and separate support channels. SIMcontrol replaces that with one SIM supplier, one account, one data pool and one online management platform across all networks.
“Most of our customers run SIMs on more than one major network. That usually means more contracts, more bills and more admin,” says Kees Snijders, Managing Director. “Adding Telkom means companies can put all three major mobile networks on one private APN, with one data pool, bulk SIM supply and a single point for technical support.”
The Telkom SIMs provided by SIMcontrol also give customers multi-network coverage on all three local networks. If one network drops in an area, a device can use one of the others. This is particularly useful for IoT devices, which often sit in remote locations with patchy coverage or occasional tower downtime.
Locked down with deep connectivity insights
On a private APN, companies choose exactly which apps and websites their SIMs can reach – everything else is blocked. This stops data being wasted on unauthorised apps or websites. It also keeps device traffic off the open public internet. SIMcontrol’s custom firewalling reports on exactly which destinations or apps company SIMs are trying to access.
For critical IoT devices such as POS devices, GPS trackers, alarm systems or on-board CCTV, having visibility on end-to-end connectivity and device behaviour stops a SIM from just being a line on a bill but part of a fully managed network that understands and acts on what it sees.
Companies can also choose to add VPN links directly to their corporate networks, or connect directly to Amazon or Google cloud services or peering hubs. SIMcontrol manages it all as a service. Each SIM gets a secure fixed private IP address. SIMs can also be locked to a single device through its IMEI (a unique device number). A stolen SIM then can’t be used in another device.
SIM abuse is avoided with real-time data quota limits, with no need to wait for delayed CDR or billing record alerts. Users can see live data sessions and SIM tower locations, and can suspend unused SIMs instantly on the platform.
The SIMcontrol API allows for easy direct integration into existing company systems.
No lock-in
“Having managed company SIM cards across Africa for almost 20 years, SIMcontrol is a proven service to help companies manage and support large SIM fleets” says Snijders.
Being network agnostic, it operates on the philosophy of offering total network choice and flexibility with no long-term contracts on SIMs or data. Companies can scale up or down as their needs change.
Approved companies can also test the service first on a free trial.
