Comparing DNN (Data Network Name) with APN (Access Point Name) highlights their roles in mobile networking, where both serve as gateways to external networks, albeit within different technological contexts. Understanding their similarities and differences is crucial for grasping how mobile devices connect to the internet and other services in 4G and 5G networks.

Similarities:

• Gateway to External Networks: Both DNN and APN act as identifiers that connect mobile users to external data networks, facilitating internet access and services beyond the mobile operator's network. When a device initiates a data session, it uses either an APN (in 4G/3G) or a DNN (in 5G) to specify which network it wants to reach.
• Network Selection: They specify which external network or service the user's device is trying to access, playing a crucial role in data routing and session management. This selection determines how the user's data is handled, routed, and what services are available.
• Configuration and Management: DNNs and APNs are integral to the network configuration, affecting how data sessions are established, managed, and how quality of service (QoS) is applied. Operators use these identifiers to apply policies, security, and charging rules for each session.
• User Experience: For end users, both DNN and APN settings are often pre-configured by the operator, ensuring seamless connectivity. However, advanced users or enterprise customers may customize these settings for specific use cases, such as private networks or dedicated services.

Differences:

• Technological Context: APNs are associated with 3G and 4G LTE networks, while DNN is specific to 5G networks. This reflects the evolution of mobile technology and the transition to more advanced and flexible network architectures. DNNs are designed to support the new capabilities and requirements of 5G, such as ultra-low latency and massive IoT connectivity.
• Functionality and Flexibility: 5G networks, with DNNs, offer more advanced features, including network slicing, which allows for the creation of multiple virtual networks with different characteristics over a common physical infrastructure. DNNs support this by facilitating more granular and flexible service delivery, enabling operators to tailor connectivity for specific applications (e.g., autonomous vehicles, smart factories, or enhanced mobile broadband).
• Session Management: In 5G, session management is more sophisticated, with DNNs enabling better integration with the network's core to support a wide range of services and applications. The 5G architecture, leveraging DNNs, allows for more efficient use of network resources and enhanced support for IoT (Internet of Things) devices and services. For example, a single device may connect to multiple DNNs for different services, each with its own QoS and security requirements.
• Addressing and Security: DNNs in 5G can be associated with specific security and policy rules, and can support IPv6 addressing natively, whereas APNs were primarily designed for IPv4, with IPv6 support added later. This makes DNNs more suitable for the future growth of connected devices.
• Implementation: In practice, APNs are typically configured as part of the device's SIM profile or manually entered in device settings. DNNs, on the other hand, are often managed dynamically by the 5G core network, allowing for more automated and scalable service provisioning.

In summary, while both DNN and APN serve to guide data traffic to the correct external network, the DNN does so with a greater level of sophistication and flexibility, reflective of 5G's advancements in network architecture and service provisioning. The transition from APN to DNN is part of the broader shift towards more capable, versatile, and efficient mobile networks capable of supporting the growing demands of modern applications and services.

Example: In a 4G network, a user's device may use the APN internet.operator.com to access the public internet. In a 5G network, the same user could use a DNN such as iot.enterprise.com to connect to a private IoT network slice, while simultaneously using another DNN for regular internet access, each with different policies and performance characteristics.

Further Readings

• DNN/LADN