⚠️Please note: Your numbers must remain active with your previous carrier in order to be ported into Aircall. If you cancel your account with your previous carrier before the numbers have been ported, then we will be unable to proceed with the porting.
Number Types & Porting Availability
|
Number Type |
Description |
Is Porting Available? |
|
Geographic/Local |
Geographic numbers are local numbers that are assigned to a specific geographic region. |
Yes |
|
Mobile |
Mobile numbers are assigned by country and in specific ranges so that they can be quickly identified apart from local numbers. |
Yes |
|
Toll Free |
Toll-free numbers are numbers that are free of charge to call from the caller's side. |
Yes |
|
National |
National numbers are phone numbers that are not region-specific and are designed to be reachable from an entire country at the same cost. |
Yes |
MBN (Main Billing Number)
In the United Kingdom, the MBN (Main Billing Number) is similar to an account number. The MBN is the number to which all other telephone numbers on a customer's account are billed.
It is recommended to confirm your MBN before submitting a porting request to Aircall. If you are uncertain what your MBN is, you can review your invoice as it is often listed, or contact your current provider.
If the main billing number (MBN) is being ported, any associated numbers must be ported as well or ceased with the current provider after the port has been completed. If you are uncertain if there are associated numbers with your MBN, it is recommended that you contact your current provider.
Multi-Line Vs Single-Line
When porting Geographic numbers, there are two main categories: Single-line or Multiline ports (Simple or Complex ports).
Single Line Port - A port order for an individual number or group of numbers that are not associated with a number range. Single-line numbers are able to be ported freely and individually as single numbers.
Multi-Line Port- A port order used when porting a large batch or range of numbers. In the UK, numbers can be grouped together in ranges varying in size from 10 to 100+. If the numbers you are looking to port are part of a larger range or have associated numbers, all numbers will need to be ported together.
If you are uncertain if your number is a single line or a multi-line, it’s recommended you contact your current carrier to confirm your number configuration before submitting your porting request.
PAC Codes (Mobile Number Porting)
PAC stands for Porting Authorization Code. PAC codes are required for mobile number porting. If you are trying to port a mobile number, we will not be able to port your number without the PAC code.
According to OFCOM, you can request your PAC following the directions here. You can text ‘PAC’ to 65075 to obtain your code or reach out directly to your current provider.
Your PAC is valid for 30 days. If you do not use your PAC within that time, it will expire and you will need to obtain a new one.
Parties Involved
Porting in the UK can be complicated due to the number of parties that could be involved with a single porting request. Below are descriptions of the parties and their role in the process.
Range holder - This is the network that OFCOM provided the numbers to originally. This will never change per OFCOM regulations. In case the range holder and losing provider are different, porting needs to be agreed upon with both providers.
Network provider - This is also known as the losing communications provider, and who the numbers are currently managed by. This is usually the company providing the telecom services. In case the range holder and losing provider are different, porting needs to be agreed upon with both providers.
Tip: All major network providers have a specific code associated with them called a CUPID code. It’s recommended before submitting a porting request to Aircall to contact your current provider and request the CUPID code associated with your numbers.
Reseller - Resellers are the company billing you for the service. There can be more than one reseller involved. They have acquired Numbers from a Network Provider (or another Reseller) for resale to a Customer.
Tips: If you are not sure you are using a reseller service, please refer to your billing documents/invoice. If the company which have issued the invoice is not registered with OFCOM, they are a reseller.
Submitting a Porting Request
If you would like to port your existing phone number to your Aircall account, please be prepared to provide the following information:
-
The number you would like to port-in
-
Your current carrier
* If your current carrier is another VoIP service, please reach out to ask them who is the true underlying carrier/owner of the number(s)
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Full name of the owner of the number
-
Service address on file with the current carrier
-
A copy of your most recent invoice
Additional Help Articles
You can submit your porting request to our porting team here.