Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is defined as “the ability of a mobile postpaid or prepaid subscriber, who has no existing financial obligation to the donor provider, to retain an existing mobile number despite having moved from one (1) mobile service provider to another, or to change the type of subscription from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.“
This was made possible by Republic Act No. 11202 also known as the Mobile Number Portability Act, which is the consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1636 and House Bill No. 7652 that were passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on November 21, 2018, and November 20, 2018, respectively.
In simpler terms, your mobile number is yours to take to another network should you want to switch providers. With this option, you can switch (or “port”) from network to network, from postpaid to prepaid, prepaid to postpaid, or whatever. All you need is your Unique Subscriber Code (USC) from your current provider to serve as clearance to make the switch. The service is free of charge, as long as all conditions are met, and is available for Globe, Smart, and Dito networks, as well as its sub-brands.
Do note that a number is only available for re-porting 60 days after approval of a previous migration. However, if porting to another network provider, the account may be locked in to that network for the new contract duration which can last anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on the plan and inclusions.
Types of porting
- Internal – retaining your number when moving from prepaid to postpaid service or vise versa within the same network provider
- External – retaining your number when moving to another network provider. Do note that postpaid accounts will be turned into prepaid when ported to the DITO network.
Who are qualified for porting:
(All conditions should apply.)
Active mobile numbers that
- have no unpaid account charges
- is not linked to an operator-locked device
- is not part of any product or service bundle
- is not the primary or principal holder of multiple accounts
- does not have a pending transfer of mobile number ownership request
- has not applied for the MNP within the last 60 days
- is not associated with any fraudulent activity
- has no prohibitions set by the law, by court order, or by the National Telecommunications Commission
Requirements for porting:
- Government-issued ID
- Proof of Mobile Number Ownership
- for postpaid accounts, this could be a simple as a billing statement
- for prepaid accounts, it could be the SUM bed, the SIM card’s official receipt with MIN, PUK slip, or log-in to any of the network-based apps or e-wallets.
- Unique Subscriber Code (USC) – the 9-digit code issued by the current network provider that serves as clearance that the postpaid account is up-to-date, with no arrears. The USC is valid for 15 days upon the date of issue. For prepaid accounts, the Prepaid Porting Code is a 6-digit code that will be sent via SMS or email after the approval of the switching application.
How long does the MNP process take?
Once the MNP application is received and confirmed by your preferred network provider, the activation process will take about 24 to 48 hours.
The former network provider shall continue servicing the ported number until the cutover period, which is when the actual migration takes place. There will be a service interruption of up to 4 hours (meaning no voice, SMS, or data) until the activation of the new subscription is completed.
What happens when a number is ported?
- All current subscriptions including load balance, rolled-over data, Value-Added Services (VAS), earned points and other add-ons expire once a number is ported. However, for Smart, the MVP Rewards will be retained.
- The new network provider will provide a new SIM. (delivery fees may apply)
Now, the question is “What do you do to find out what network you’re calling when you have limited call minutes?“
Useful links:
DITO Telecommunity
https://www.dito.ph/mobile-number-portability.html
Globe
https://new.globe.com.ph/port-number
https://www.globe.com.ph/mobile-number-portability
Smart Communications
x.smart/switch
https://smart.com.ph/Pages/mobilenumberportability/faqs
Read the Mobile Number Portability Act here
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2019/ra_11202_2019.html