Change your service provider without having to change your mobile telephone number.
Number portability offers a special enhancement to consumer choice in markets where there are more than one telephone service provider. Number portability or number porting, enables users to keep the current telephone number assigned to them, when switching from one telecommunications service provider to another. Removing the hassle/inconvenience of having to inform all of your contacts – family, friends, colleagues, customers, clients and so on – that the number assigned to you has changed out of the equation, means that consumers can focus their decision on the important issues such as service quality and price. Simply, consumers may select the service provider of their choice and still keep their number.
Before number portability, switching to a new service provider also meant having to get a new telephone number. Enhancing consumer choice with the ability to ‘port’ their number, also promotes competition as providers compete to offer services and prices they believe to be most attractive to consumers.
From Monday 13th May 2019 number portability service for mobile or cellular telephone numbers became available across the ECTEL region (Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines).
Number portability for fixed or landline telephone numbers will be available at a later date once alternative fixed telephone services are available across the ECTEL region.
MNP Resources
Mobile Number Portability Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) means you can keep your mobile phone number if you decide to change from one mobile service provider to another. Basically, it’s a service that allows you to keep your mobile number irrespective of your service provider. So, if you port (or switch) between service providers, you don’t have to go to the trouble of advising all your friends, family and colleagues that your number has changed – it stays the same. MNP service is available to all mobile subscribers within all ECTEL countries (Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines).
No. You can only port numbers within the same ECTEL country and you cannot port numbers between different countries.
MNP is available to “post-paid” (contract) and “pre-paid” mobile customers of all service providers within the ECTEL region, as long as your number hasn’t been barred, or restricted, or suspended or reported stolen/lost to the current provider.
There are no charges for you to port your number. All porting (or switching) charges are met by the service providers. Your current provider may charge for unlocking your handset once you have ported your number. You may wish to check with your current provider if handset unlocking charges will apply before you start the porting process.
Some handsets may be locked to the current service provider’s network and will not work on another service provider’s network unless they are unlocked. If your handset is locked to your current service provider’s network, this will not prevent you from porting your number to another service provider. However, you will not be able to use your new service with your existing handset unless you first arrange for it to be unlocked or purchase a new handset.
The porting process should not result in any noticeable interruption of your service whether for business or individual customers. The only disruption to your mobile service will be when you receive a text asking you insert the SIM card provided by your new provider. This process should take around 30 seconds and once your new SIM card is inserted and your handset is powered back up, your mobile service and number will have been ported.
No. Mobile Porting refers only to switching providers and keeping your number within your own country
Your porting process can be cancelled with no charge before you send the validation SMS to the special porting number 77678. However, once that SMS has been sent the process cannot be aborted. If you do not wish to proceed with your porting request, then you must not send the validation SMS
The charges applicable to your service after switching will be on the terms and conditions of your new provider, and you will now be on their network. As such, charges may be different from those of your previous service provider, including increased charges for making calls from your new network to numbers on your previous network.
You will receive a bill for your usage up to the time your mobile number is switched to the new service provider, and your service terminated with your current service provider.
If you have not completed a minimum required term of the contract with your existing service provider you may be required to pay the outstanding balance of monthly rentals due under the contract. You should investigate this carefully with your existing service provider before switching in order to avoid any surprises.
No. Your previous service provider is not allowed to contact you during the porting process or for 60 days after the porting process has been completed, to try and persuade you to stay with them. Once the porting process is complete, your previous service provider is only permitted to contact you to recover outstanding payments.
If you have any questions or experience any problems with your porting request then you should refer these to your new service provider who will be pleased to assist. If you feel that either service provider has breached the terms of the mobile number portability service then you can file a complaint with the NTRC’s office.