How to port from one network to another

Posted by Felix Okoli on Wednesday October 9, 2013 at 15:42:34:

You must have heard about number porting in Nigeria and how easy it can be to just move from one network to another for free when you choose to although, I think it somehow resembles being a "gsm network ashawo".

Yes, number porting is that service which allows you to do that and all networks offer this service for now and this includes MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat.

So how does someone port from Etisalat to MTN or from MTN to Glo and back? Are there any rules for porting? What are the fees applicable to migrating from one network to another? What are the benefits of porting?

Personally, I don't subscribe to the idea of having 3 or 4GSM lines or sim and having to carry multiple phones or even 3 sim in one phones. It's a bit confusing and I think it somehow makes your life disorganized. I guess one of the benefits of number porting is that it allows you to move to another network whenever you feel that your provider is not satisfying you enough.

Well, this is basically a write up to share with you one how you can port to another network from your current network and still retain your original number.

Things needed to port
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Before proceeding to a GSM company's office to port, here are the basic things you'll need so remember to take them along with you:

- Personal form of identification e.g. Driver's license, National Id card,
- Good passport photograph
- Registered SIM card of old network
- Mobile phone

How to port
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1. Send "PORT Current Number" to 3232 e.g. "PORT 080953+++" TO 3232

2. Visit the office of the new GSM network you want to port to

3. Request, fill and submit the number porting form

4. Your receiving network will send a message to the clearing house to deactivate your old sim and recognize the new sim.

5. You will be given a new SIM for free and your old number will be active on the new SIM.