Glossary
Number porting
Number porting is the process of taking the phone number you already have and moving it to a new provider. The number does not change; who delivers calls to it does.
Number porting is the process of moving an existing phone number from your current provider to a new one. In Canada, local and toll-free numbers can generally be ported between providers. The new provider submits a request with details that must match the current account; the old provider releases the number on an agreed date; and calls begin arriving through the new service. The number stays the same throughout.
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What it means
A phone number is not owned by the provider that delivers it. It is assigned to a customer, and the customer can generally take it to another provider. Porting is the administrative process that makes that happen. The new provider files a port request with the current provider, supplying the account details exactly as the old provider holds them. Once approved, a date is set and the number is switched.
Porting is deliberate and paced. The old service keeps working until the moment of transfer. Mismatched account details are the most common reason a request is rejected, which is why a recent bill from the current provider is the most useful document to have on hand.
How it is used in a business phone system
- The new phone system is built and tested on a temporary number while the port request is in progress.
- On the port date the advertised number begins arriving at the new system and the temporary number is retired or kept as a spare.
- Multiple numbers, including toll-free, can be ported together or in stages so each location switches when it is ready.
- Do not cancel the old service before the port completes; cancelling first can release the number rather than transfer it.
How 3CTel uses it
Porting is a standard step in 3CTel's setup. A specialist collects the account details and a recent bill, submits the request, and keeps you informed of the status. Your phone system is configured and tested on a temporary number in the meantime. The switch-over date is confirmed with you before it happens, and the old line keeps working until the number moves. Nothing is billed before activation.
Number porting
How a port works, what you need to provide, what causes delays, and what 3CTel does at each step.
Learn more: Number portingBusiness Phone Numbers
Local, toll-free and campaign numbers that all land in one system.
Learn more: Business Phone NumbersBusiness Phone
Reliable calling with routing your team will actually use.
Learn more: Business PhoneCommon questions about number porting
How long does number porting take?
It varies with the number type and the current provider. A single business number often moves within days to a couple of weeks; toll-free numbers and large batches can take longer. The main variable is how quickly the current provider approves the request, which depends on the account details matching. Your specialist gives a realistic estimate once the request is filed.
What information is needed to port a business number?
The number itself, the account number and business name exactly as they appear on the current provider's bill, the service address on file, and an authorization signed by someone entitled to act for the business. A copy of a recent bill covers most of this. Any PIN or port-out code the current provider uses is also required.
Related pages.
Business Phone Numbers
Local, toll-free and campaign numbers that all land in one system.
Learn more: Business Phone NumbersNumber porting
How a port works, what you need to provide, what causes delays, and what 3CTel does at each step.
Learn more: Number portingVirtual business phone number
A real business number on the cell phone you already carry.
Learn more: Virtual business phone numberFrequently asked questions.
Normally there is no gap. The old provider delivers calls until the moment of transfer and the new provider takes over from then. Brief interruptions can occur at the switch itself, which is why the date is agreed in advance.
Local numbers are tied to a geographic rate centre. Many can be ported to a provider that serves that area regardless of where your office is, but not every number is portable everywhere. This is checked before the request is filed.
Not sure which of these you need?
Describe how your calls arrive today and a 3CTel specialist will map them to the right pieces, build them on a temporary number and quote the result before anything is billed.