Vodacom: internetvpn APN
Update This is no longer available, the internet APN has public IPs.
A quick tip for Vodacom 3G / GPRS / EDGE users in South Africa.
There is a special APN called "internetvpn" for laptop users who connect to corporate VPNs. While this probably doesn't interest most readers, it is a useful APN to use because:
- You get a real Public IP address, not a private NATted one.
- You get lower latency.
- The cost is the same. (i.e. regular data bundles work fine)
If you use a VPN, this will probably make it more reliable, and if you don't it will at least make your ssh use more comfortable.
Unfortunately, the following vodacom issues will still be present:
- No incoming TCP connections (i.e. you can't serve web pages from or ssh into your laptop)
- Often you get "martian" DNS servers (10.11.12.13 and 10.11.12.14). Either reconnect, or manually set your DNS servers to 196.43.46.190 (SAIX) and 196.207.40.165 (Vodacom).
- TCP connections are regularly reset. (Overloaded NAT/Firewall hardware?)
How to get it:
- Call vodacom customer care (111).
- Follow the IVR menu options in the directions of data cards.
- Ask them to enable the "internetvpn APN" (you might have to explain it to them)
- Reconfigure your phone / chat script / "data card driver" to use "internetvpn" instead of "internet"
- Profit! :-)