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A guide to porting your mobile number
Changing providers doesn’t mean losing your number. Here’s how to keep your existing one.
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Porting your mobile number is simply the process of taking your existing number to a new service with a new mobile provider. "Porting" is basically the same as transferring, where you get to keep your original phone number and take it either to a different network or a different provider.
How to keep your mobile number
Keeping your number when you switch plans is easy. Here's how.
Find a plan and don't cancel your old one
Find a plan and don't cancel your old oneCompare mobile plans or identify the one you want. Don't cancel your existing plan until your number has been safely ported, or you'll lose it.
Activate your new plan
Activate your new planOnce you have your SIM from online or in-store, activate it. During this process, let them know you want to keep your old number and they'll handle the transfer for you.
Cancel your old plan after porting
Cancel your old plan after portingIf you've moved your existing number over, your old plan should cancel automatically. Alternatively, you can safely cancel your old plan by letting your previous provider know.
Circles.Life 100GB for $28 SIM-Only Plan
Pay $28 for 100GB of data per month. Plan reverts to $38 for 100GB per month after 12 months. T&Cs apply.How long does it take to port a mobile number?
Porting your mobile number should never take more than two days, in almost all cases. For many customers, the transfer will be done in a matter of hours.
The standard hours of number porting are:
- Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm
- Saturday, 10am-6pm
Note that number porting won't take place outside of the standard hours above. Porting is also paused during public holidays.
What is required to port a number?
Australian consumer law guarantees that you can transfer your number to a new provider no matter what. Here's what is involved in the process:
- Activate your new mobile SIM, indicating that you're porting a number.
- Your new provider will likely request a valid ID to verify your identity.
- Your old provider will ask for confirmation that you've requested a number transfer, and you'll need to authorise it.
- Your number should be transferred successfully to your new account.
What if the names on my mobile accounts don't match?
For porting a mobile number, the account name shouldn't matter at all. Account verification is done using account numbers on a postpaid plan, and dates of birth on a prepaid plan. If you're trying to transfer ownership of a number, you shouldn't have a problem so long as the number's previous owner authorises the transfer.
Can I use my old SIM while porting?
You should be able to use your old SIM all the way up until the moment the number port has been completed. Once the port is finished, you'll no longer get service on your old SIM and it's time to switch over to your new SIM.
You'll be able to use your phone throughout the porting process, since the basic functions of your phone will still work without service – you just won't be able to make calls, send texts or use mobile data if the current SIM isn't active.
What to do after porting your number
Once you've transferred a number over from one account to another, your old service should cancel automatically, though you can contact your previous provider to make sure. You will probably still receive one or two bills to finalise your account, and if you're on a contract you'll have to settle any fees if you've exited it early.
Compare mobile plans below and switch today
Frequently asked questions
What does porting your phone number mean?
"Porting" your number means transferring it from one mobile phone plan to another, so that you can keep your current mobile number, even if you switch providers.
How can I check my porting status?
There's no real way to check where you are in the porting process. Generally, you'll be notified when the process starts and again when it's all finished.
Does porting your number cancel a service?
Yes. Porting your number from one service to another will lead to the automatic cancellation of the previous plan and service you're coming from.
Can I port my number from a postpaid plan to a prepaid plan?
Absolutely. Numbers can be ported between any kind of mobile service.
Picture: GettyImages Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com
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Ask an Expert
I already have a mobile phone, with no service and I am finding it difficult to get the right plan for me. 1).I can pay up to $50 per month. 2) need unlimited national calls. 3) Have access to internet.
Hi Fay,
Thank you for leaving a question.
You can use our mobile phone plans comparison table to help you find the plan that suits you. The page can also be filtered further by company, cost, usage type, and others for your convenience. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
An important consideration in selecting a provider is if international roaming is available, and in what countries. I go overseas each year.
Hi Den Den,
Thanks for your question.
Global roaming service varies widely among the service providers in Australia. We have listed some of the roaming prepaid providers on our website. Open that link and on the same page, you will find the rates they charge for a specific destination/country.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May