Porting mobile number to new network provider

[Mont Blanc]

I’ve had the same phone number for 25 years and I can’t lose it or be without it for any time whatsoever, due to work reasons.

Is it perfectly easy and reliable to port a mobile number to a new provider these days, or are there any horror stories about people ending up disconnected for days or something like that? Is it instant?

I’m assuming porting is an everyday occurrence due to a complete lack of the the whole “here is my new number” texts that were an almost daily occurrence in the early 00’s…

[bigpriest]

Mont Blanc said:

I’ve had the same phone number for 25 years and I can’t lose it or be without it for any time whatsoever, due to work reasons.

Is it perfectly easy and reliable to port a mobile number to a new provider these days, or are there any horror stories about people ending up disconnected for days or something like that? Is it instant?

I’m assuming porting is an everyday occurrence due to a complete lack of the the whole “here is my new number” texts that were an almost daily occurrence in the early 00’s…

Fairly easy, you ask for a Porting Authorisation Code which I think you can do by sending a text. Then that code is used by your new provider (usually as part of the setup). Used to be a phone call, then a 3 day wait, then 3 days to activate

[Jamescrs]

Very easy, done it a few times, I always text my network to get a PAC code then supply that code to the new network and agree a transfer date with your new provider. I usually find I have been without any phone coverage for a couple of hours tops but be aware they will say it can take a full working day.

[Actual]

Mont Blanc said:

Is it perfectly easy and reliable to port a mobile number to a new provider these days...

Apparently it is easy and so easy that someone I know thought it was easy and did it wrong and terminated their 20 years of Vodafone account and lost their number which could not be recovered. I never found out exactly how the managed it. So caution advised.

[ro250]

Done it a few times in the family recently. It's not like it used to be - it's super easy and when your old SIM goes off, your new one starts working pretty much straight away.

[Mont Blanc]

Thank you all, I knew PH would be able to give me the answers!

[silentbrown]

Mont Blanc said:

Thank you all, I knew PH would be able to give me the answers!

I've had the same number almost 30 years. It routinely gets switched to a different provider every couple of years now. It's pretty much seamless.

[Mont Blanc]

silentbrown said:

I've had the same number almost 30 years. It routinely gets switched to a different provider every couple of years now. It's pretty much seamless.

Thank you Sir.

[Rough101]

I done four numbers earlier in the year, 3 were working within minutes, one took 30 hours and lots of calls to resolve.