SIMcontrol adds Telkom as third network on one Private APN
South African businesses can now manage Vodacom, MTN and Telkom SIMs on one Private APN, sharing one data pool and reducing the administration of dealing with multiple networks.
Companies that deploy large amounts of SIMs in connected devices often juggle dealing with several mobile networks.
That means separate contracts, separate bills and separate support channels, along with the time needed to track usage and control costs across their SIM fleet.
SIMcontrol has added Telkom to its managed Private APN service, enabling businesses to use Vodacom, MTN and Telkom SIMs on the same APN and share one data pool across all three networks.
For businesses, this means greater network choice with simpler administration, central control of data usage and fewer supplier relationships to manage. For companies with smaller SIM fleets, SIMcontrol also manages automated monitoring and top-ups of existing prepaid and contract SIMs from all networks on the same online platform, helping companies to get a grip on their existing SIM card fleets and ensuring SIMs are always active and not abused.
Three networks, one data pool
SIMcontrol brings separate network engagements together through one bulk SIM supplier, one account, one data pool and one online management platform across all three networks.
Businesses can use different networks across their device deployments while managing their SIM fleet centrally.
Sharing a data pool across the three networks also removes the need to manage separate APN data bundles for each network.
For companies managing large fleets of connected devices like payment terminals, trackers, alarm systems and other connected devices, administering a large SIM fleet takes time and has risk.
“Most of our customers run SIMs on more than one network. That usually means more contracts, more bills and more admin,” says Kees Snijders, Managing Director. “Adding Telkom means companies can put all three networks on one private APN, with one data pool, bulk SIM supply and a single place to manage it all in real-time.”
Greater control over data spend
A private APN (access point name) allows businesses to control which apps and destinations their connected devices can access.
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 public internet if needed.
SIMcontrol’s custom firewalling also reports on exactly which destinations SIMs are trying to access, giving businesses visibility into how their data is being used.
Real-time data quota limits prevent SIM abuse, without having to wait for delayed billing records or alerts.
Users can see live data sessions and SIM tower locations, and can suspend unused SIMs instantly on the platform.
SIMs can also be locked to a single device through its IMEI, a unique device number. A stolen SIM then cannot be used in another device.
These controls help businesses reduce unnecessary data usage and manage their connectivity costs more closely.
Less administration, more visibility
SIMcontrol enables organisations to consolidate contracts, bills and support for their connected devices with one provider, rather than managing relationships with multiple networks.
The platform gives businesses a central view of their SIM fleet, with real-time management and a single point of contact for technical support.
The SIMcontrol API allows for easy integration into existing company systems.
Each SIM also gets a fixed private IP address, making devices easier to find and manage remotely.
Companies can 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.
Flexibility without long-term lock-in
“Having managed company SIM cards for almost 20 years, SIMcontrol is a proven and reliable service to help companies manage and support large SIM fleets” says Snijders.
Being network agnostic, SIMcontrol operates on the philosophy of offering total choice and flexibility, with no long-term contracts on SIMs or data. Companies can scale up or down as their needs change.
Setup takes days, not months, with proven migration playbooks to onboard existing private APNs and large SIM fleets.
Approved companies can also test the service first on a free trial.
