Port your numbers in the UK
Move your UK landline, mobile and freephone numbers from your current provider, with a signed letter of authority, and track the port in the portal.
Number porting moves a UK phone number you already have from your current provider (the losing provider) to your account here. You fill in an application in the portal, sign a letter of authority, and the porting team takes it from there.
Porting follows the UK industry processes for geographic, mobile and non-geographic numbers. Every detail on the application must match your current provider’s records exactly. One wrong detail can get the port rejected, and the process then starts again.
Types of port
Section titled “Types of port”When you start an application, choose United Kingdom (or Other Countries for numbers outside the UK), then the type of number.
| Type of number | What you need | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Numbers (01 and 02 landlines) | Your current provider’s details, the main business number, the range holder and losing carrier, the line type and the installation postcode. | Single-Line: 5–7 business days. Multi-Line: 5–28 business days after the port is accepted. |
| Mobile Number | A port authorisation code (PAC) from your mobile provider. | 1–4 business days. |
| Toll-Free, Non-Geographic 0800/0808 | Your current provider’s details, and the call plan you want for each number. | 5–14 business days. |
| International Numbers (GEO, TOLL FREE, MOBILE) | Your current provider’s details. The fees are quoted after you apply. | Up to 30 business days. |
The fees and expected porting time for each type are shown in the application form. A porting fee applies to each number, and a rejection fee applies if the losing provider rejects the port. Prices shown in the portal include VAT.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”- Get a recent bill from your current provider. It must show the account name, account number, service address and the numbers you’re porting. The portal asks for an invoice from the last 6 months.
- Call your current provider and confirm the account details, every number on the account, and the main business number for the line.
- For a landline, find out the line type. A single number on its own line is Single-Line. Several numbers, or numbers that share lines, are Multi-Line. Use the postcode where the line is installed, which may differ from your billing address.
- Remove alarm and monitoring services from the line first, such as Redcare or other security monitoring. They can stop the port.
- For a mobile number, get a PAC from your mobile provider (for example, text PAC to 65075). The PAC is valid for 30 days, so apply before it expires.
- Keep the old service active. Don’t cancel it or change it before or during the port, or the port may be rejected.
- Top up your balance so the porting fee can be charged after the porting team reviews your application.
Submit a porting application
Section titled “Submit a porting application”- Go to Services › Number porting and click New porting.
- Choose the Country of the phone number(s) and the Type of the number(s).
- Optional: enter your own External reference for the port.
- Under Upload the most recent invoice from a previous service provider, upload the bill.
- Complete the application form so it matches the bill exactly. Use one application for each losing provider.
- Sign the letter of authority (LOA) with the e-signature link in the form. Every application needs a signed LOA.
- Check every detail again, click Submit application and confirm.
What to expect for each type
Section titled “What to expect for each type”Landlines (geographic numbers)
Section titled “Landlines (geographic numbers)”- The port is arranged with the losing provider and the range holder (the network the number range belongs to).
- Multi-line ports can take longer because every number on the line must move together.
- If the port is rejected because of the installation postcode or the losing carrier’s details, the porting team posts a comment on your porting. Correct the details and resubmit.
Mobile numbers
Section titled “Mobile numbers”- Calls move to your phone system when the port completes. SMS and data on the old SIM stop working.
- Text messages to the ported number can be sent to email on request. Sending SMS from a ported mobile number isn’t available.
Freephone numbers (0800 and 0808)
Section titled “Freephone numbers (0800 and 0808)”- Callers don’t pay to call these numbers, so you pay for the incoming calls. Choose a call plan for each number in the application. Ask the support team which plan suits your call volume.
Track your port
Section titled “Track your port”Your applications are listed under Your portings with their ID, External reference, Template and Status. Use Filters to find one.
- Click a porting to open its details and comments.
- Read the porting team’s updates in the comments. They post an update as the port moves through each stage.
- To ask for the latest status, or to answer a question from the porting team, write a comment and submit it.
A porting can have these statuses: Draft, New, Submitted, Resubmitted, Rejected, Booked, Completed and Cancelled. When it changes to Submitted, add the numbers to your call flow so they work as soon as the port completes. See Inbound number.
You can Edit a draft or a rejected porting, Delete a draft, and Cancel a porting that is New or Rejected. View PDF shows the application.
Moving a number away later
Section titled “Moving a number away later”If you later move a number to another provider, ask your new provider to start the port. A port-out fee applies to each number.