How to Keep Your Phone Number When Switching Providers?
- Etel Marketing
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Thinking about switching mobile providers, but worried about losing your phone number? Good news! You don’t have to.
In Australia, you can keep your existing mobile number when moving to a new provider through what’s known as “number porting”, which aims to be simple, fast and make switching providers as seamless as possible.
What does “Number Porting” mean?
Number porting is the process of transferring your existing mobile number from one provider to another.
The term “porting” comes from the telecommunications language that refers to porting a number across different networks. While it might sound technical, the concept is very simple:
When you change providers, your number will stay the same. So when someone is “porting their number”, they’re just switching networks without changing their contact details.
How Does Number Porting Work?
Porting your number is usually quick and straightforward. Here’s how it typically works:
Sign up with your new mobile provider
Request to port your existing number
Your current provider releases the number
Your number activates on your new SIM or eSIM
In most cases, number porting is completed within a few hours, although it can sometimes take up to one business day.
Number porting made simple
Keeping your phone number when switching providers is standard in Australia. Number porting exists to remove friction, giving you the freedom to move to a better-value mobile plan without the hassle of updating your contacts or starting from scratch.
At E.Tel Mobile, we support fast, seamless number porting so you can switch with confidence and stay connected from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to port my number?
To ensure a smooth transfer, you'll usually need:
Your current mobile number
Verification that you own the number (such as an SMS code or account details)
An active service with your current provider
Important: Don’t cancel your old plan before porting, this can delay or block the transfer.
Keeping the same number means
No need to update friends, family, or work contacts
No missed calls or important messages
No disruptions to banking, apps, or two-factor authentication
Will I Lose Service During the Switch?
For most customers, service disruption is minimal or non-existent. If there is any downtime, it’s usually brief, often just a few minutes while the number transfers between networks. You’ll be notified once the process is complete.
What are the benefits of Porting?
For many people, porting removes the biggest barrier when switching providers. Switching providers doesn’t mean starting over.
Number porting makes changing mobile providers easier than ever. You get the freedom to find better, value, coverage, or flexibility, without losing your number.
