21.01.2025

In 2024, more than 1.3 million telephone numbers were transferred between electronic communications operators in Romania, confirming the importance of portability for users who wish to change their provider, keeping their phone numbers. Since the launch of the portability service in Romania, in October 2008, more than 12,6 million phone numbers have been transferred between the networks.
 

Last year, 1.360.111 phone numbers were ported, from which 94%, i.e. 1.282.509, were mobile numbers, and the rest of them were fixed telephony numbers. In 2024, the average number of porting processes amounted to 113.343 per month. Most of them (almost 140 thousand porting processes) were carried out in January.

Statistical data processed by ANCOM show that individual users mainly opt for the porting of mobile numbers. In 2024, 88% of the ported mobile numbers belong to natural persons, while 75% of the fixed ported numbers belong to juridical persons.

36 fixed and mobile telephony providers were involved in the porting processes carried out in the last year.

Mobile telephony

In 2024, 1.282.509 mobile numbers were ported. Most users chose the offers of the provider Digi Romania, which received 726.429 numbers. Vodafone has received 284.193 numbers by porting, Orange 192.444, and Telekom Romania Mobile Communications 79.427. The rest were distributed among other providers.

58% (741.566) of all the mobile numbers ported in 2024 were subscription-based.

Fixed telephony

As for fixed telephony, 77.602 numbers were ported in 2024. Most of these were transferred to Vodafone (21.196), Colt Technology Services (18.460) and Digi Romania (18.170).

In 2024, 28.002 of all fixed numbers were location-independent numbers, free phone numbers or premium rate numbers indicating that, even though fixed telephony is loosing ground to mobile telephony, users continue to retain the essential services, such as premium rate numbers, which remain relevant for those who choose portability.

In 2024, ANCOM has received 746 petitions regarding the porting of phone numbers, the users complaining especially about aspects related to the cancellation of porting process, after having received offers from the providers they intended to give up, as well as to the termination of the contract regarding the phone number provisionally allocated in a first phase. The porting process must be clear and transparent, and users must have the freedom to choose according to their wishes. 

Useful info

Portabilitate.ro: Users can access www.portabilitate.ro to check the network of any phone number used in Romania, including ported ones. The platform provides details on the porting process, answers to frequent questions and solutions for possible issues.

Practical tips: Before initiating a porting process, users are advised to check the contract they have with the current provider. If the minimum contractual period has not expired, they may be required to pay penalties, especially if a terminal has also been purchased with the communication services.

ANCOM's role in porting: ANCOM provides support to operators for the proper conduct of porting processes, but cannot approve, refuse or cancel porting requests. All of  these are carried out by providers, in compliance with the legislation in force.

User recommendations: For a trouble-free experience, users are encouraged to follow the steps recommended by ANCOM and to inform themselves from official sources about the rights and obligations they have during the porting process.