π‘ What is it?
Porting is the act of transferring a 10-digit phone number from one carrier to another carrier.
Under the FCC's LNP (local number portability), you are legally able to keep your number when you move or change phone companies. The FCC allows individuals to port a phone number if they are the current authorized user or owner of the phone number.
βοΈ How it works
Phone Number Ownership
- Owning a phone number means that you are currently paying a phone carrier to keep that number active in your name. In order to port a 10-digit phone number, you must own the phone number currently (i.e., be currently paying a carrier to keep the number active in your name).
General Porting Process
This process applies to both porting in and away from any phone carrier.
- Current/Losing Carrier = The current carrier keeping the phone number active and in service
- New/Gaining Carrier = The new carrier, who will pull the number to their system
| Check for Portability | Start a Port Request | |
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1οΈβ£ As the owner of a phone number, you will initiate a port request with your Current/Losing Carrier or New/Gaining Carrier. 2οΈβ£ The New/Gaining Carrier will first check for portability to determine whether it supports the rate center (Rate Center Overview π) of that specific 10-digit phone number. |
3οΈβ£ The New/Gaining Carrier creates a port request for the 10-digit phone number.
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| Authorization of a Port Request | ||
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4οΈβ£ Most Current/Losing Carrier will ask for authorization to know the actual owner (authorized user) of the phone number, who is starting the transfer request.
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| Submit a Port Request | Number Transfer (Port) Complete | |
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5οΈβ£ The New/Gaining Carrier submits the port request to the Current/Losing Carrier to be approved based on the submitted information.
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6οΈβ£ Once the port is approved, both carriers agree on a confirmation date, called an FOC (firm order confirmation) Date. 7οΈβ£ On the FOC date, the New/Gaining Carrier, will pull the number over to their system. 8οΈβ£ Once ported successfully, the service on the Current/Losing Carrier will stop working, and the phone will be serviced only by the New/Gaining Carrier. |
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π Things to Know
Porting Time Frame
- Porting time frames are set by the FCC to be same-day for only wireless-to-wireless port requests. This means that if you are porting your number from a mobile (wireless) carrier to another mobile carrier, it must be completed on the same day.
- However, there are no regulations for any other type of porting, like landline/wireline-to-wireless porting. This type of porting can be same-day, or it can take 3-10, or in extreme cases, up to 30 business days to complete the transfer.
- The reason for the time-frame variables has to do with the following:
- Incorrect porting credentials are being sent, and having to resolve the rejections
- Other non-information-based rejections (see Common Rejection reasons here)
- Carriers only porting numbers on business, non-holiday days
- Authorization requirements
- The reason for the time-frame variables has to do with the following:
Cost of Porting
- In general, only the New/Gaining Carrier will charge for porting, since they are performing the task of pulling the number to their system.
- Fees related to porting a number away from a carrier may exist; always check with your Current/Losing Carrier about what will happen if you port your number away from their service, every carrier is different.
- See NumberBarn Porting Cost π
Impact of Porting on Current Carrier Services and Plan
- Always check with your Current/Losing Carrier before you start a port request to check on the following:
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What happens to my account if I port away a phone number?
- Some carriers will close or delete the entire account, but every carrier is different
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What happens to my account if I port away a phone number?
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