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Port your number in South Africa

Looking to switch carriers in South Africa? This guide covers the essential regulations and procedures for keeping your number while moving between Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C.

Technical Porting Process

1

Authorization & Submission

Recipient-led; SMS 'PORTME#' to specific shortcode (historical) or visit recipient with ID; technical switch overnight

2

Centralized Validation

The migration is overseen by ICASA using the Centralized DB managed by NPC; LRN-based routing to ensure integrity between donor and recipient networks.

Regulatory Benchmarks

Mobile Porting SLA

1-2 working days (standard); technical target < 24h

Max Service Outage

Minimal

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Expert Guidance

The Number Portability Company (NPC) is owned by major SA operators and manages the central clearinghouse.

Common Questions

Is number porting possible in South Africa?
Yes, South Africa currently has Y status for number portability, covering Mobile and fixed (geographic/non-geographic) services.
How long will I be without service during the switch?
The maximum allowed service interruption is typically , with the total process usually taking 1-2 working days (standard); technical target < 24h.

Verified Intelligence Sources