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Number portability is a regulated facility which enables subscribers of publicly available telephone services (including mobile services) to change their service provider whilst keeping their existing telephone number. Its purpose is to foster consumer choice and effective competition by enabling subscribers to switch between providers without the costs and inconvenience of changing telephone number.

Law and regulations

European Union

Member States are required to ensure the provision of number portability to subscribers pursuant to Article 30 of the Universal Services Directive (2002/22/EU).

United Kingdom

Powers to enable Ofcom to set conditions requiring communications providers to provide number portability are set out in section 58 of the Communications Act 2003 (the "Act").

Obligations imposed on a communications provider to provide number portability to its subscribers and to provide portability to other communications providers are set out in General Condition 18 ("Number Portability"). Ofcom have got powers to enforce any breach of that Condition under sections 94 to 103 of the Act. Civil liability for breach of that Condition could also arise, but Ofcom must first give a consent for the bringing of such civil proceedings under section 104 of the Act.

Industry documents

Ofcom host industry owned and produced documentation concerning arrangements relating to the provision of number portability. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that such documentation provided on this website (or links to the same) is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made by Ofcom. As Ofcom have no control over the documentation, information contained in it is provided 'as is'. Ofcom do not therefore accept any responsibility for the documentation and in no event shall Ofcom be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use of, or reliance on, any information contained therein.

• Geographic number portability (fixed telephone numbers, those with geographic significance ie Area Codes)
• Non-geographic number portability (specially tariffed services such as freephone, local rate, national rate and premium rate services)
• Mobile number portability (mobile telephone numbers)
• 118xxx access code transfer (directory enquiry access codes)
• Personal number portability (personal numbers)

Number portability archive

Historical documentation concerning UK number portability can be accessed under the following categories:

• Geographic number portability
• Non-geographic number portability
• Mobile number portability
• Personal number portability

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