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Glossary · Numbering

Number porting

In one sentence

Number porting is moving an existing phone number from one provider to another so the business keeps the same number. The new provider runs the process; the old service ends when the port completes.

Also known as : number port · number ports · porting · port a number · porting a number · number portability · port request

The steps of a number portA four-step process. 1: the business signs with the new provider and authorises the port, giving the account details of the current provider. 2: the new provider submits the port request to the current one. 3: a port date is agreed. 4: on the day, the number starts ringing on the new service and the old one stops.1 · Order + authorisationLetter of authority andcurrent account details2 · New providerSubmits the request tothe current provider3 · Port date agreedConfirmed by bothproviders4 · Port dayNumber rings on the newservice; old one stops
The new provider runs the port: you don't cancel the old contract first, or you risk losing the number.

What is number porting?

A phone number is part of a business’s identity: it sits on invoices, vans, Google listings and in thousands of customers’ contacts. Number porting means you can change provider without changing that number. In the UK it is a regulatory requirement overseen by Ofcom; in Ireland, by ComReg. It applies to mobile numbers, geographic 01/02 numbers, non-geographic 03 and 08 numbers, and freephone 0800 numbers.

The process is “gaining-provider led”: you only deal with the new provider. It contacts the old one, agrees a date and switches the routing.

How it works

  1. Authorisation. For business landlines you usually sign a letter of authority (LoA) and give the account number and installation address held by the current provider. For mobiles, you request a PAC code by texting PAC to 65075.
  2. Submission. The new provider sends the port request. For a DID range, every number in the block must be listed.
  3. Date. Both providers confirm a port date. Mismatched details, such as an old postcode or a different account holder, are the most common reason for rejection.
  4. Switch. On the day, calls to the number start reaching the new network and the old service ends for that number.

Nothing physical moves: the routing records in the networks are updated so that calls know where to go.

Example

An accountancy firm in Leeds with 22 staff moves from an on-site system on ISDN to a cloud PBX. It has a main 0113 number, a range of 30 DDIs and an old 0845 number still printed on some letterheads. Before signing, the office manager pulls every number from the latest bill and checks the installation address on the BT account matches the LoA. The port is booked for a Wednesday at 8 am, with new handsets already set up on temporary numbers. By 9 am clients are ringing the same numbers as always.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Cancelling the old service yourself before the port completes.
  • Missing a DDI or secondary number from the request.
  • Giving an account holder name or address that doesn’t match the losing provider’s records.
  • Booking the port on your busiest day of the month.

Porting at Universal Telecom

We port numbers onto the virtual PBX or onto a SIP trunk connected to your own PBX. For a large number range or numbers in several countries, contact us before you sign so we can check the list and plan the date.

Frequently asked questions

Should I cancel my old phone contract before porting?

No. Cancelling first can mean the number is ceased and lost. Let the new provider submit the port; the old service stops for that number when the port completes. Check separately whether any minimum term or notice period still applies to the old contract.

How long does porting take in the UK?

A single mobile number can move within one working day using a PAC code, obtained by texting PAC to 65075. Landline and business number ports take longer, typically one to a few weeks depending on the number of lines and the providers involved.

Can I port a number to another country?

No. A number belongs to its country's numbering plan, so a UK number can only be ported between providers operating in the UK. You can, however, keep it with a provider that routes calls anywhere.

Related terms

  • DID (direct inward dialling)

    A DID (direct inward dialling) number, called a DDI in the UK, is a public phone number that rings a specific extension, team or call flow directly, without passing through a switchboard.

  • Geographic number

    A geographic number is a landline number whose area code points to a place, such as 020 for London or 01 for Dublin. It signals a local presence and is charged as a standard national call.

  • Virtual phone number

    A virtual phone number is a real phone number with no physical line behind it: calls are routed over the internet to a mobile app, a softphone or a phone system, wherever you are.

  • SIP trunk

    A SIP trunk is a voice-over-IP connection between a business phone system and a carrier. It replaces ISDN lines and carries calls and numbers over your internet connection.

  • Cloud PBX

    A cloud PBX is a business phone system run by a provider in its data centres. Extensions, IVR menus, queues and call routing are managed from a web portal, with no PBX hardware on site.

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