Business Phone Number Porting
Keep the number your customers already have. What the paperwork needs, how long each number type really takes, and the mistakes that get ports rejected.
Number porting moves an existing phone number from one carrier to another, keeping the number itself unchanged. In the US the right to port is regulated by the FCC, so your current provider cannot refuse simply because you are leaving.
How long does porting take?
It depends on the number type, and the honest answer is a range rather than a date. These are typical windows for a clean request — a rejection restarts the clock.
| Number type | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US local (wireline) | 2–4 weeks | The common case. A clean request between major carriers can clear in days, but 2–4 weeks is the realistic planning figure once LOA validation is accounted for. |
| US mobile / wireless | 1–2 weeks | Usually quicker than wireline. Needs the account number and the account PIN or passcode, which is set on the carrier account rather than printed on the bill. |
| US toll-free | 3–4 weeks | Handled through RespOrg change rather than a standard port, which adds a step. See toll-free numbers. |
| International | 2–6 weeks | Varies widely by country. Some regulators require proof of local presence or a registered address before a port is accepted — the per-country pages state where. |
Once the losing carrier accepts the request it issues a firm order commitment (FOC) date — the scheduled cutover. Before that date exists, the request is still in validation, and that is the stage where paperwork problems surface.
What you need to submit
- A recent bill from the losing carrier, showing the account as it is recorded on their side.
- Account number, exactly as it appears on that bill.
- Account PIN or passcode for mobile numbers — set on the carrier account, usually not printed anywhere.
- Service address as held by the losing carrier, which may not be your current address.
- A signed LOA (Letter of Authorisation) authorising the transfer.
Why ports get rejected
Nearly every rejection is a data mismatch rather than a refusal. The fix is the same each time — correct the detail, resubmit, wait again — so it is worth getting right first pass.
| Cause | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Name or address mismatch | The LOA must match the service address on the losing carrier's record exactly — not your current trading address, and not a rebranded company name. Pull a recent bill and copy it character for character. |
| Account number or PIN wrong | Mobile ports need the account PIN, which is usually not on the bill. Set or retrieve it from the carrier account before submitting. |
| Pending order on the account | An open change — a plan upgrade, an address change, another port — blocks a new one. Let it complete first. |
| Number not actually portable | Numbers bundled with certain services, or those outside the receiving carrier's coverage footprint, cannot port. Check before announcing a date. |
| Account closed early | The single most common self-inflicted failure. Cancelling the old service before the port completes releases the number back to the carrier pool, and recovering it ranges from slow to impossible. |
Do not cancel your old service
This is the one irreversible mistake. Cancelling before the port completes releases the number back to the carrier's pool, and once released, recovering it ranges from slow to impossible — at which point the number on your signage and Google listing is gone.
Keep the old service active until calls are confirmed arriving on the new system, then cancel. Paying one extra month of overlap is cheap compared to losing the number.
Porting toll-free and international numbers
Toll-free numbers move by RespOrg change rather than a standard port, which is why they take longer. International numbers depend on the local regulator — several markets require proof of local presence or a registered address before a port is accepted, and the per-country pages state which ones.
While the port is in progress
You do not have to wait to start. A temporary number can run on the new system immediately, with call forwarding bridging the two until cutover — so configuration, testing and training happen before the number moves rather than after.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to port a business phone number?
US local numbers typically take 2 to 4 weeks and mobile numbers 1 to 2. Toll-free runs 3 to 4 weeks because it goes through a RespOrg change. International ports range from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the country's regulator. Timelines are set by your current carrier rather than by Salamtalk, and a rejected LOA restarts the clock.
Does porting a number cost anything?
Porting to Salamtalk is free for local, toll-free and international numbers. Your existing provider may charge an early-termination fee if you are inside a contract term, which is between you and them.
Will my phone service go down during the port?
No, if it is scheduled properly. The number keeps working on the old carrier until the cutover completes, usually within a short window on the agreed date. Keep the old service active until you have confirmed calls are arriving on the new system.
What is an LOA?
A Letter of Authorisation is the document that authorises the new carrier to request your number from the old one. It must match the losing carrier's records — company name, service address and account number — and mismatches here are the most common reason ports are rejected.
Why was my port request rejected?
Most rejections come from a name or address that does not match the losing carrier's record, a wrong account number or missing mobile PIN, or another pending order on the account blocking the change. Each rejection means correcting the detail and resubmitting, which restarts the timeline.
Should I cancel my old service first?
No — never cancel before the port completes. Closing the account releases the number back to the carrier's pool, and once released it may be unrecoverable. Cancel only after calls are confirmed arriving on the new system.
Can I port some numbers and keep others?
Yes. Ports can be partial, moving selected numbers while leaving the rest in place. Flag this at submission, because a partial port on an account the carrier expects to close is handled differently and is a frequent source of delay.
Can I check the status of my port?
Yes. Each request has a firm order commitment (FOC) date once the losing carrier accepts it, and status is visible in the admin panel. Before an FOC date is issued the request is still pending validation, which is the stage where LOA mismatches surface.
Bring your number with you
Porting is free for local, toll-free and international numbers. Send us a recent bill and we will tell you what is portable and how long it will take before you commit.