Mobile Number Portability (MNP) lets you move from one network to another without losing your existing number. No need to reprint business cards, update every contact, or explain to friends why you have a “new” number — just switch carriers and keep dialing.
Here’s exactly how MNP works, country by country — including the codes you need, how long it takes, and what it costs.
Philippines 🇵🇭
- Regulation: Republic Act No. 11202 (Mobile Number Portability Act)
- Launched: September 30, 2021
- Cost: Free
How to port:
- Request a porting code from your current network — a Unique Subscriber Code (USC) for postpaid (9 digits, valid 15 days) or a Prepaid Porting Code (6 digits) for prepaid, sent via SMS.
- Submit your porting application to your new preferred network with this code.
- Once approved, activation takes 24–48 hours.
Good to know: There’s a service interruption of up to 4 hours during the actual switch. All prepaid load balance, rollover data, and loyalty points are forfeited once you port — so it’s worth using them up beforehand. You can port again only 60 days after your last switch.
India 🇮🇳
- Regulator: TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)
- Launched: January 20, 2011
- Cost: Up to ₹6.46 (nominal, charged by the new operator)
How to port:
- Send an SMS: PORT <your 10-digit number> to 1900.
- You’ll receive an 8-character Unique Porting Code (UPC), valid for 4 days (30 days in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the North East).
- Visit your new operator’s store or app with the UPC and your KYC documents (Aadhaar, etc.) and submit your request.
- Porting completes in 3 working days within the same telecom circle, 5 working days across circles, and up to 15 working days in J&K, Assam, and the North East.
Eligibility: Your number must be active for at least 90 days with your current operator, with no outstanding dues (for postpaid) and no pending ownership-transfer requests. You can cancel your request within 24 hours by texting CANCEL <number> to 1900.
Pakistan 🇵🇰
- Regulator: PTA, via the Pakistan MNP Database (PMD)
- Launched: March 23, 2007 — the first country in South Asia to implement MNP
- Cost: Varies by operator (e.g., around Rs. 550 to port into some networks)
How to port:
- Confirm your current SIM details by texting MNP to 667.
- Visit your new operator’s franchise with your original CNIC.
- Complete biometric verification and pay the porting fee.
- Your existing SIM must have been active for at least 60–90 days, with all dues cleared.
Good to know: After porting, you must wait at least 60 days on the new network before porting again — a “quarantine” style rule to prevent excessive number-hopping.
Bangladesh 🇧🇩
- Regulator: BTRC
- Launched: October 1, 2018 — Bangladesh became the 72nd country worldwide to offer MNP
- Cost: Tk 50 + 15% VAT for standard switching (completed within 72 hours), or Tk 100 extra for expedited switching within 24 hours
How to port: Visit your new operator’s customer care center with your NID and existing SIM to submit the porting request. Processing takes up to 72 hours for the standard option.
Good to know: Once you switch, you must wait at least 90 days before porting again.
Nigeria 🇳🇬
- Regulator: NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission)
- Launched: 2013
- Cost: Free
How to port: Send an SMS with the word PORT to short code 3232, then complete a Port Request Form with your new operator. Available for prepaid and postpaid subscribers across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
Good to know: Nigeria is one of the relatively small number of Sub-Saharan African markets (alongside Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Cameroon) where MNP is available — many other countries in the region haven’t implemented it yet.
Indonesia 🇮🇩 — Not Yet Available
Unlike the other countries on this list, Indonesia does not currently offer full Mobile Number Portability. While the regulatory framework exists on paper (under MCITR 14/2018 and earlier policy discussions dating back over a decade), nationwide implementation has repeatedly stalled due to technical and interoperability challenges between operators.
What this means: If you want to switch networks in Indonesia today, you’ll need to get a new number from your new operator — your existing number cannot currently be transferred. This has been the subject of ongoing discussion between Kominfo and operators like Telkomsel, Indosat, and XL Axiata, but no firm rollout date has been confirmed.
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
- Regulator: CST (Communications, Space and Technology Commission)
- Launched: July 8, 2006 — one of the earliest adopters globally
- Cost: Fee applies, varies by operator and plan
How to port: Submit a porting request directly to your preferred new operator (STC, Mobily, or Zain), who coordinates with your current provider. The process runs through preparation, hold, activation, and final payment phases as defined by CST regulations.
Good to know: Ensure all current bills are settled before initiating — outstanding payments are one of the most common reasons for a rejected porting request.
United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
- Regulator: TDRA (formerly TRA).
- Launched: MNP was announced in 2013 and rolled out shortly after, giving UAE residents the ability to switch between Etisalat (e&) and du while keeping their number.
How to port: Contact your preferred new operator directly — they handle coordination with your current provider on your behalf, so you don’t need to deal with your old network at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies by country. Porting is completely free in the Philippines and Nigeria, while India charges a small nominal fee (under ₹7), and Bangladesh and Pakistan charge a modest service fee. Always check your specific operator’s current rate before initiating.
Most countries have a brief service interruption — often just a few hours — during the actual cutover, typically scheduled at night. Your number remains active on your old network right up until that point.
In most countries, unused prepaid balance, bonus data, and loyalty points do not transfer to your new operator — use them up before you port.
No — nearly every country enforces a waiting period (commonly 60–90 days) before you can port again, to prevent excessive switching and keep the system stable.
Implementing MNP requires deep technical coordination between competing operators to route calls correctly to ported numbers — this is genuinely complex, and some markets (like Indonesia) have repeatedly delayed rollout for this reason, even after passing supporting regulations.