Mobile Networks

Networks and virtual operators

A mobile network operator (MNO) owns the towers and the radio spectrum. A virtual operator (MVNO) buys capacity from one of them and sells its own plans, often cheaper and often prepaid. Coverage and speeds follow the host network, but the APN, the MMS server and the customer support don't. That's why copying the host network's settings onto an MVNO SIM can leave you with no data, or with data that works but picture messages that fail.

When you need to set the APN yourself

Phones normally pick up the APN from the SIM without asking. The usual exceptions are an unlocked phone moved to a new carrier, a phone imported from another country, a SIM swap that left the old carrier's APN in place, and MMS that stopped working after a software update. In each case the fix is the same: open the APN screen, add or correct the entry with your carrier's values, and restart mobile data.

Keeping settings current

Carriers change APN and MMS values after mergers, rebrands and network moves, usually without announcing it. If the values on a carrier's page don't work for you, tell us which carrier and phone you're using, and we'll re-check it.