# Number Porting Process

**Category:** General
**URL:** https://www.simtex.com.au/support/kb/general/number-porting-process
**Published:** 2024-05-09

Ensure that you are not under contract with your current provider, as this may prevent porting.

## Why this article matters

Australian businesses switching SIP trunk, Cloud PBX, or Microsoft Teams Direct Route providers typically reach this article when planning the keep-your-number step of the migration. Simple Category A ports — single DIDs and small ranges — complete in approximately 1 to 2 weeks, while Category C ports covering ISDN blocks and larger number ranges take 4 weeks or more. Each port submission includes one free reapplication if the losing carrier rejects the initial request. The porting pipeline supports any Simtex destination service: SIP Trunks (from $4.99 per channel per month), Cloud PBX (from $4.85 per extension per month), Teams Direct Route (from $4.99 per channel per month), and 1300/1800 inbound numbers. Temporary Simtex DIDs are issued during the porting window so calls continue to land and the new platform can be tested with translated number presentation before the carrier-to-carrier cutover. Compared with porting handled by reseller providers such as Vonex, Maxotel, Buroserv, SIPTalk, and Intelephony, Simtex submits requests directly to the losing carrier as the licensed Australian carrier of record. That removes a coordination layer, gives the Simtex engineering team direct visibility into rejection reasons, and allows cutover timing to be booked with the customer rather than imposed by the wholesale chain — relevant when porting from incumbents like Telstra Business or iiNet Business where rejection codes can be opaque.

## Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Ensure that you are not under contract with your current provider, as this may prevent porting.

Gather Information: Obtain a copy of your most recent telco invoice or account statement. Note your account or customer number for your service.

Know your Simtex account number.  If you are porting numbers to Simtex after you have already setup your VoIP account and VoIP subscriptions/products, then you will need to let us know the Simtex account ID for your service

If you are a new customer, and filling out porting details as part of the online sign-up form, then you will not need to provide an account number.

Set Expectations: Porting typically takes 1-2 weeks for Category A ports and over 4 weeks for Category C ports. Should there be any discrepancies with your account number or if your service includes complex products, this duration may extend.

## Step 2: Complete the Porting Request Form

Fill out our online [PORTING FORM](/number-porting-application/). You will need to provide essential details such as your current account information and authorization for the number port. We will acknowledge your application through our ticketing system once processing begins. We typically process new ports once per business day.

## Step 3: Verification and Approval

Simtex will verify the details and submit a request to our upstream carrier for further verification. Once approved, we will contact you to confirm the date and time the port will take place. If there are issues with the port request, we will discuss these on a case-by-case basis.

## Step 4: Check DID Config

Ensure that your VoIP PBX or Teams tenancy is set up to accept calls to the number(s) you’re porting. Simtex will send numbers to you in E.164 format, without a plus.

`Example: 61894883344`

## Step 5: Optional Diversion

You may purchase temporary DID numbers to facilitate the porting process. Within our portal, you can ‘translate’ these temporary numbers to match the ‘real’ number(s) you are porting to us. This setup allows you to configure your PBX or Teams platform with your real-world numbers ahead of time. Calls to the temporary numbers will then be directed to your system as if the caller has dialed your ‘real’ numbers.

[MORE INFO](/kb/onboarding-migrating-number-blocks-to-teams/)

## Step 6: Activation and Testing

On the scheduled date, your number(s) will be ported to Simtex. It is crucial to test your number(s) to ensure that all services are functioning correctly. Please contact Simtex support 20-30 minutes after your scheduled porting time if you encounter any issues, as some carriers may take longer to update their porting records.

Map DIDs: You may need to login to our portal to ‘map’ your new ported DID’s to the subscription you wish to receive calls on.

## Related

- Article: https://www.simtex.com.au/support/kb/general/number-porting-process
- Category: https://www.simtex.com.au/support/kb/general
- Knowledge Base: https://www.simtex.com.au/support/kb
- Full AI reference: https://www.simtex.com.au/llms-full.txt