19.01.2024  

In 2023, the upward trend in the volume of ported phone numbers continued, with a new peak reached since the launch of the portability service, in 2008. Thus, 1,541,269 phone numbers changed their operator last year, while keeping the user. 96% of the total ported numbers, i.e. 1,472,946, are mobile numbers. Records were also set for the average number of ported numbers per month (128,439). Most numbers were ported in March and November 2023 - over 140 thousand.

37 fixed and mobile telephony providers were involved in the porting processes carried out in 2023. Out of last year’s total porting processes, 87% were initiated by residential users and 13% by legal entities.

Since the introduction of the portability service in Romania, in October 2008, over 11 million numbers have been transferred between networks. Of these, 10 million are mobile numbers (90%) and 1 million are fixed numbers.

Mobile telephony

In 2023, 1,472,946 mobile numbers were ported. RCS & RDS is the provider that received the most mobile numbers by porting - namely 866,855, followed by Vodafone with 289,838 numbers received and Orange with 181,522. Telekom Romania Mobile Communications received 111,751 numbers, Orange Romania Communications 22,876, while other providers received 104 numbers.

58% (851,637) of all the mobile numbers ported in 2023 were subscription-based.

Fixed telephony

In 2023, the porting trend in the category of fixed telephony numbers decreased by 16%. Thus, 68,323 fixed telephony numbers were ported. Most users opted for the offers of the following providers: RCS & RDS (24,276 numbers), Orange (13,344) and Vodafone (11,903).

11,313 of all the fixed numbers ported in 2023 were location-independent numbers, freephone numbers, and premium rate numbers.

Over the past year, ANCOM received 450 petitions regarding the porting of phone numbers, the users complaining especially about aspects related to the cancellation of porting processes, after having received new offers from the providers they intended to give up, and to the termination of the contract regarding the phone number provisionally allocated in a first phase. We emphasize that, as of 15 August 2023, where a porting process has not been completed, the acceptor provider must request from the subscriber, within 30 days from the last day of the porting interval, their agreement to continue the contractual relationship through the provisionally allocated telephone number, otherwise the contract related to this number will cease de jure, without any formalities.

Useful info

• ANCOM has made available www.portabilitate.ro, a website where users can find out the network of any phone number used in Romania, even if it has been ported. The site provides details on the steps to follow in order to port a telephone number, answers to questions that frequently arise in the case of porting numbers, but also tips to avoid possible problems that may occur during the porting process. The advice is based on actual situations reported to the Authority by users.
• Users who wish to port their phone number are advised to check the contract they have with the current operator; if the minimum contract period has not expired, they will most likely be in a position to pay penalties for early termination of the contract, especially if a terminal has also been purchased with the communication services.

ANCOM provides support to operators for the proper conduct of porting processes, but cannot approve, refuse or cancel porting requests (all of which are carried out by providers, at users' request and in compliance with the legislation in force).