The law on preserving a telephone number when a subscriber switches to another mobile operator came into force in Russia on December 1. However, it turned out that the abbreviation MNP means nothing to many people. And those who know what these three letters mean are often unaware of how to practically exercise their right to port a number if they suddenly have such a desire.

Therefore, Digit.ru, having studied the regulatory documents and procedures established by cellular operators, formulated a sequential list of practical steps that should be taken by those wishing to move to another cellular operator while maintaining their previous number.

In addition, based on knowledge of the current situation, Digit.ru offers a number of recommendations that should ensure that “walkers” do not get complications when moving between mobile operators.

What is MNP

The MNP (Mobile Number Portability) service implies the ability for a cellular subscriber to transfer the mobile phone number assigned to him in the cellular network when switching to service to another cellular operator.

In Russia, amendments to the Law “On Communications” introducing MNP came into force on December 1, 2013. From this day forward, mobile operators are required to accept applications from subscribers to switch to their network while maintaining their number.

However, according to the government decree of November 28, 2013, the operator receiving the subscriber has the right to set any date for the start of service for the subscriber transferring to him with his subscriber number, but no later than April 15, 2014. This is due to the fact that the government and the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications did not have time to adopt all the regulatory documents necessary for the implementation of MNP. Therefore, mobile operators are still setting up and testing the interaction of their technical systems with the centralized database of transferred numbers, with each other and with third parties in the process (foreign operators, payment systems, fixed-line operators and others).

How to leave for someone else while keeping your number

However, now you can begin to realize your desire to switch to another mobile operator and at the same time keep your previous phone number.

It only requires four steps.

Step 1

Take your passport and go to the office of the operator you want to switch to while keeping your number. You won't need any more documents.

However, please note that the number must initially be assigned to you by your current operator. If the number is registered to another person, you will be denied transfer with him to a new operator.

In addition, your number must be registered in the network of the previous operator in the same region (region, republic, territory) where the network you want to switch to is located. If your number is currently registered in the network of one operator, say, in the Tambov region, you will be able to switch to another operator only in the same Tambov region; you will not be able to go with this number to an operator in Orel - they will refuse you.

Step 2

In the salon of the operator to which you want to switch, write an application for switching to service, indicating your passport details, the name of your previous operator and the telephone number that you want to keep during the transition.

Sign a service agreement with the new operator. Please pay attention to the start date of service, which will be indicated by the operator’s representative in this agreement - it must be no later than April 15, 2014. Now all major mobile operators indicate the start date of service ranging from mid-January to mid-February 2014. It is on the day specified in the contract that you should begin to be served in the new network with your previous number.

Get your SIM card from your new operator. You will need to insert it into your phone on the day and hour that your new operator will indicate to you in order to start servicing with him with the number you transferred.

Pay for the received SIM card (according to the operator’s tariffs) and the cost of the number porting procedure (if the operator charges it) - it should not exceed 100 rubles.

You can then wait for notification of the exact start time of the service. You don't need to go to your previous operator.

Step 3

Receive an SMS from the new operator confirming the possibility of switching to it with your number or a refusal to transfer. Reasons for refusal - see Step 1.

In addition, you may be sent an SMS notification that you have a debt to your previous operator - then pay it on the same day, otherwise you will be refused to switch.

Step 4

Receive (no later than three days before the start of service) an SMS notification about the exact day and hour of the start of service on the new network. At the indicated hour, insert the SIM card you received from the new operator into your phone. After a technological break of no more than 30 minutes, this SIM card will automatically begin to be serviced in the network of the new operator with the number you transferred from the previous network.

How to avoid getting into trouble when porting a number

Before you go write an application to switch to a new operator while keeping your number, think carefully about whether you need it. If you start thinking about this after the transition, you will be able to go back or move somewhere else no earlier than two months after the start date of service with the new operator.

When deciding to switch, keep in mind that after it, not all the services you are used to will be automatically saved in the network of the new operator.

For example, if you used a “direct” city telephone number on your mobile phone in the network of your previous cellular operator, you will not have it in the new network, because only the federal cellular number is transferred.

In addition, if in your previous network you had SMS alerts and other remote services installed from the bank where you are served, when you transfer your number to another network, they will be disabled and will not be automatically restored. To use these services on the new network, you will need to go to the bank and write there an application to switch these services to the same number, but on a different cellular network.

There is no need to rush to port your number to another network: as mentioned above, the entire MNP system is currently in the testing stage. Operators hope that it will be successfully completed by mid-January - mid-February.

However, if something goes wrong, then when you find yourself on a new network, you may encounter some rather unpleasant problems.

It may turn out that you will not be able to pay for the services of the new operator using the usual methods - through payment terminals, from a bank account, through electronic wallets. Your money may not reach your account in the new network, and finding it will not be easy. You may also have problems receiving calls from landline phones, from abroad, or from your previous cellular network. Roaming may also become impossible.

Once testing of the MNP system is completed by all major participants, these problems will, of course, be resolved. But why do you need to take part in these experiments?

Therefore, it makes sense to wait to switch to another operator while maintaining your number at least until April 15, 2014.

The other day, a friend contacted me with a question about the MNP service. She wanted to transfer the number from SMARTS to MegaFon. I came to the latter’s office in Madagascar, but they refused to accept the application, sending me for a certificate of no debt to SMARTS. This requirement is, of course, illegal. Let's look again at what the subscriber needs to do and what the cellular operator is responsible for.

On December 1, 2013, the MNP service began operating in Russia. It allows you to change your mobile operator without changing your phone number. This is very convenient if your number is known to a large number of people and/or various companies. The number is also linked to SMS notification services of banks, social networks, online stores, etc. Therefore, changing the number will entail a lot of inconvenience.
However, today a little more than 950 thousand numbers have been transferred in the country (0.4% of the total number of active SIM cards).

Basic transfer conditions:
1. Only a federal number can be transferred. It is impossible to port a landline number.
2. Numbers can be transferred only within one region of Russia.
3. You can transfer numbers no more than once every 60 days.

Additional terms:
1. You should not have any debts to the previous operator. To do this, you just need to check your balance or call the helpline (if other numbers are registered in your name). In any case, your future operator will check this information independently. The number is usually transferred after eight days, so it is advisable to leave a small amount in your old account.
2. The personal data that you provide in the application must match the data that appears with the previous operator. If your number is registered to another person, you can transfer the number in his personal presence or with a notarized power of attorney.

Step 1: write an application
All you need to do is come to the office of the future operator and write an application. It is better to contact your own offices and service centers rather than intermediary companies. Apart from a passport, no certificates or documents are needed. Don't forget to take 100 rubles. They will be added to your phone account and written off a few days after the number is transferred.

Step 2: choose a tariff
After completing the application, you need to select the tariff on which you will be served by the new operator. I recommend choosing it in advance rather than taking the one that is offered to you. In this case, you will receive a SIM card with a temporary number.

Transition period
Now we will have two SIM cards: old and new. And both are working. It is not necessary to use a new SIM card before the transition, but if any services are connected there, money will be debited from you. So I lost 6 rubles in 8 days because of the “Stay informed+” option (Beeline), which connects automatically. Be carefull.

Step 3: receive SMS
Before the transition, you will receive several SMS from your future operator. For example, I received five SMS from Beeline:
1. November 28 (1 day). Your application has been accepted and a number has been assigned to it. It will be useful for communicating with support (if necessary).
2. November 28 (1 day). Your details have been successfully verified.
3. November 28 (1 day). There is no debt to the previous operator.
4. December 2 (day 5). The transition will take place on the night of December 5-6. In fact, the transition occurred only two days later for unknown technical reasons. I had to call support three times.
5. December 8 (day 11). Congratulations on a successful transfer and a warning that in three days 100 rubles will be debited from the number.

Step 4: change SIM cards
After the transition, your new SIM card with a temporary number will receive your previous number. The old SIM card should stop working. There may be some interruptions in communication for some time.

How to get money back from your previous operator?
There is no automatic method. The only option is to personally come to the office of your old operator and write an application for a refund. They should be transferred to your bank account.

What to do if you receive a refusal?
It all depends on the reason. If it is not indicated, you need to contact the help desk of your future operator. The main reasons: negative balance, data mismatch, blocked number, etc. If personal data does not match, you will have to find out this information from your current operator. After eliminating the reason for the refusal, you will have to write the application again.

How to find out which operator a particular number belongs to?
Previously, you could find out which operator it belonged to by the first digits of a phone number. Now, for example, when you call an MTS number, you may end up with a call to another operator. Accordingly, you will spend a different amount of money. There are no warnings provided.

Commands for checking number ownership
Beeline: *444*9ххxxxxxxx#
MegaFon: *629*9ххxxxxxxx#
MTS: *916*9ххxxxxxxx#

There are situations when a subscriber wants to change not only the tariff plan or a certain option, but also the mobile service provider. Most often there are transitions in favor of the “Big Four”: users choose Beeline, Megafon, MTS or Tele2 instead of the existing operator.

The most pressing question that arises is how to make sure that the number remains unchanged? After all, changing it entails notifying a significant number of people, including relatives, colleagues, acquaintances, and there is always a risk of missing someone. This review will talk about how to correctly change the operator while maintaining the number, options for possible actions, their cost and features of the procedure.

What does MNP mean when changing operator?

The abbreviation MNP (derives from the English words “mobile number portability” - mobile number transfer) implies the ability to change the mobile network, the conditions of its use, but keep your phone number. For this purpose, it is necessary to submit an appropriate application, and with some operators this must be done in person; options using the Internet will not help.

At the service center (after confirming your identity and writing an application) you will be issued a SIM card with temporary mobile numbers. It will become active after the balance is replenished.

The duration of the transfer of previous phone numbers to another operator may vary. For some, the phone will be transferred within the number of days stipulated by the agreement, while others will independently push the deadline to a later time. In any case, an SMS will confirm the successful transition, after which you can use the old phone with the new conditions.

The service is paid from the account balance of the new operator. How much it will cost depends on him; some operators can transfer the phone for free.

What do you need to save your number when changing operator?

The main problem that may arise when switching to a new operator is the presence of debt for services already provided. In addition to the absence of debt, the region is a prerequisite: you can switch while keeping the number only in the same region in which the first SIM card is registered. The mobile phone should not be blocked.

The standard procedure consists of the following steps:

• The subscriber personally comes to the company’s salon with a passport and his phone number;
• Then he fills out an application according to the proposed sample, containing personal data, the intention to maintain the previous phone numbers, and indicates the current operator;
• Afterwards, the client signs a service agreement, which will indicate the period for transferring the mobile phone and activating the selected tariff plan. An SMS will notify you about this later.

Important! Passport data must match those specified in the contract with the current operator.

As a result, the subscriber receives a new SIM card, and usually pays 100 rubles for the actions taken. Until the old phone is transferred, you can use both the temporary and the old card.

Actions when switching to MTS while saving the number

MTS is quite often chosen as a new mobile service provider. This is facilitated by a constantly updated range of tariff plans, ongoing promotions and unique offers. Customers who understand that the current provider cannot offer equally favorable conditions switch to this cellular operator, and often while keeping their previous phone.

A new client will have to pay 100 rubles to connect to MTS with an unchanged phone number. The company indicates that the mobile transfer is carried out in person, but with the opportunity to order a new SIM card with delivery by courier (free) on the official website. The service is not available in all localities.

Typically, the user needs to perform the following steps:

1. Visit the nearest company division or company showroom. Inform the MTS specialist of your desire to start using the operator’s tariff plan, but leave your phone. Write a transfer application and sign an agreement for the provision of communication services. A specialist will provide the necessary assistance in filling out the application, but you must have your passport with you.
2. It must be remembered that employees will refuse to accept an application if the data of the mobile owner does not correspond to those indicated in the presented passport. A number registered to a third party can only be transferred if there is a power of attorney or the owner of these phone numbers. In all other cases, becoming an MTS client while keeping your number will not work.
3. The subscriber chooses the most favorable tariff for himself and receives a company SIM card, on which the portable number will be activated in the future. In the meantime, a mobile phone is assigned to her for temporary use. It can also be used after activation.
4. The user pays 100 rubles for the transition. MTS emphasizes that the money does not go to the company, but is transferred to a federal organization that maintains a common database with ported numbers.
5. At this point, the user's participation in the process is almost complete. The company will verify the information received, possible debt on the balance sheet, etc. This may take up to several days. Both SIM cards will receive text messages informing you about the status of your application. If there are any difficulties with the transition, you will also be notified about this by SMS.
6. The day before the transfer of the old mobile phone to the SIM card of the new operator, a corresponding message will be received with the exact date and time. After this, the subscriber can communicate on the remaining unchanged number, but under the terms of a different operator.

Attention! If you encounter any problems with communication from MTS, it is recommended to contact us by phone - 8-800-250-8-250.

Switch to the Megafon network

Mobile operator Megafon has its own strengths, which allow it to attract new subscribers from users of other operators. These fully include a free transfer to Megafon with your number. It is performed both remotely and by personal visit to the provider’s department.

For clients who do not wish to visit the company’s salons, the following procedure is provided:

1. Enter the data into the application on the provider’s official portal. To do this, you can follow the link. The application will allow you to order free delivery of a SIM card and a service agreement.
2. An authorized employee with a contract and a card will arrive at the address indicated in the application at the agreed time. After identifying the person (passport is required) and signing documents, the subscriber will receive a SIM card.
3. The maximum period for the transition established by Megafon is 8 days, but at the request of the client it can be increased up to 180 days. Confirmation of the correctness of all actions will be an SMS about the successful transfer of the phone.

For users who find it more convenient to visit the company’s sales office on their own, just contact the nearest Megafon showroom. A salon specialist will help you sort out your application, answer any questions you may have, and explain the procedure for further action.

Important! It is impossible to change the provider if you have a debt on your mobile phone. It will also not be possible to become a Megafon client if the SIM card is registered in a region different from the region of the application for transfer.

Transferring a number to Beeline

In terms of the number of excellent offers, Beeline is not inferior to its competitors, and some of them are even unique. Therefore, it should not be surprising the number of users who decide to change their operator in favor of Beeline. The company is chosen for the quality of communication, constant updating of the line of tariff plans and favorable prices.

Changing the provider without changing the number will cost 100 rubles. (on a prepaid payment system the service can be considered free, because 100 rubles will be returned to the account in the form of bonuses). The operator offers to fill out an application for switching on the official website and deliver the SIM card to your home, but much more often clients visit themselves.

To switch to Beeline service with a constant number you must:

1. Contact any sales office or branded salon that is convenient for you to visit and report your desire to switch to Beeline without changing your mobile phone. A company specialist will ask you to fill out an application and explain any questions you may have regarding the procedure.
2. Choose the most favorable tariff and get a new SIM card. There is a fee of 100 rubles for the transition. (which are returned to the bonus account for prepaid tariff plans).
3. Beeline adheres to the established deadlines for transferring a phone - this is allotted 8 days. Information regarding the application processing status and current changes will be communicated via SMS. The day before the end of the procedure, you will also receive an SMS notifying you of the activation time of the number on the operator’s SIM card.

Of course, when changing an operator, everything does not always go smoothly. The subscriber may be in debt, he may make an application in a region other than the one in which the old mobile phone is registered, or the number is registered to another person. Then additional actions are needed to solve problems.

Note! Legislation allows 8 days to transfer a number to another operator. However, the client may request to defer the transition date, but not more than 6 months from the date of application.

Actions when changing operator to Tele2

Low prices and a clear mechanism for their formation, coupled with transparency of tariffs, are expanding the number of new Tele2 subscribers.

To switch to an operator with a saved number you need:

The number porting option does not apply to landline and landline phone formats. Simply put, you can transfer with your number in cases where its initial characters are “+79”. Owners of city numbers will need to get a new one.

What problems might arise?

Operators talk about certain difficulties with number transfer already in the process of completing the transfer. For example, some subscribers will be forced to visit the office of the provider they were planning to leave. Such situations most often arise when passport data is incorrect.

The reasons may be:

• A company employee incorrectly entered data into the contract details, and the client did not check or pay attention to this;
• The subscriber's passport data has changed, but he did not notify the operator about it.

There are also problems with meeting deadlines. The procedure may take longer and go beyond the established 8 days. But the user's account must be maintained with a positive balance.

Before the old phone is finally connected to the new SIM card, the connection may be lost or the card of the previous operator may stop working altogether, as well as the new SIM after the number is transferred. Providers warn of possible interruptions in communication and incoming calls and SMS for up to 6 hours.

It’s not easy to find information that you won’t be able to top up your account remotely for the first few weeks (and possibly even months). Each replenishment must be made at the operator's office.

If the subscriber has decided on the choice of operator, then other questions can be clarified by calling the following numbers:

• Yota – 8800-5500007;
• MTS – 8800-2500890 or 0890;
• Beeline – 8800-7000611 or 0611;
• MegaFon – 8800-5500500 or 0500;
• Tele2 – 611 or a separate number allocated for each region (available on the operator’s website).

Conclusion

If you do not take into account problematic situations and prepare for the transition in advance, then difficulties can be avoided. Within the agreed period, it is quite easy to become a subscriber of the provider you like with your number.

If the transfer of your previous phone took a long time, you can visit the sales office again and pay attention to the failure to meet deadlines. But this does not always help; moreover, the subscriber has the opportunity to use two SIM cards during the transition period. Therefore, the user will not experience significant inconvenience.

And get a discount on communication if you suddenly change your mind

It is profitable for mobile operators to retain their customers: for your sake, they are ready to endure hardships and make concessions in order to maintain the flow of money. But tariffs suddenly became more expensive, communications deteriorated, and an inexpensive operator with good communications appeared on the horizon. This moment had to come someday: you are finally ready to get off your old SIM card, but it’s such a shame to lose your usual number. This is where MNP comes into play.

What should I know

Don’t worry, you won’t have to look into the sad eyes of the employees of the operator whose services you are refusing: the entire procedure for transferring your old number can be completed in the office of your future operator or remotely.

You will need to visit the office of the previous operator only if your passport details do not correspond to those specified in the communication contract. For example, if you recently changed your passport, but the contract was drawn up a long time ago. And yes, the contract must be executed in your name, otherwise the number transfer will not work.

Most mobile operators will send you a courier to your home or work, if that is more convenient for you. Courier services are free. He will bring the entire package of documents and a new SIM card. Just notify the call center employee by phone that you want to sign up for the MNP service when connecting. Or leave a request on the website.

MNP only works
with federal
numbers and within
one region

Another condition for the transfer is the absence of debt to the previous operator. Pay your subscription fee debt, if any.

And now about the bad: porting a number has a number of unpleasant consequences, but most of them are temporary. For the first 30 minutes after the transfer, outgoing calls and SMS may not be available. Incoming calls and SMS become available after 6 hours. The new SIM card will have a breakdown - you need to survive it.

Another unpleasant aspect of number porting: the usual USSD request can withdraw money from the account - be careful.

Vitalik changed the operator and submitted an application to port the number, because the old operator was fed up with him. At first he was happy: the connection was better, the Internet was faster, the tariff was cheaper. But then Vitalik decided to request the balance in the account and typed the usual key combination. Instead of the current balance status, the operator sent him a thoughtful haiku, and then withdrew 30 rubles from the account. Vitalik got angry and threw the phone out the window. “You are all at the same time, damned Jewish Masons!” - thought Vitalik.

What I should do

Decide whether you need to change operator. Weigh the pros and cons. If you still decide, then figure out which operator would be best suited for you now: some have a wider LTE coverage area, others have favorable tariffs. Sometimes it is better to have two SIM cards at once, but not all phones support this feature. In general, decide.

Find or earn 100 rubles. By law, none of the operators has the right to charge you a large amount. You pay 100 rubles at a time - in the future you can forget about any fees for maintaining your old number.

Take your original passport with you. All actions to change the tariff are performed upon presentation of an identity document. We remind you because many people forget their passport at home or provide a copy of it, which is not an identity document.

Fill out an application to port your number at a mobile phone store or call a courier. If you fill out an application in a communication salon, then smile and politely greet the employee. Explain to him that you need to get a SIM card, but you want to keep your old number. He will give you a number porting application and a pen. Fill it out, pay 100 rubles, get a new SIM card and be happy.

Be
polite
with courier

If you called a courier, he will know in advance that you are ordering a number porting service - you won’t have to explain anything again. Be polite to the courier too.

Wait 8 days. From time to time you will receive SMS notifications about the status of your transfer application. It is advisable that the balance be positive all this time in order to avoid technical problems with number porting.

On the eighth day you will receive a final SMS with information that your number has been finally transferred. The old SIM card will stop working. You can insert a new one. Victory.

What can I get

There is one way to save on communications, if you still decide not to change the operator: it does not always work and not with everyone, but it still works - do so if you really have nothing to lose.

If you have been using the services of your operator for a long time, are not in the red for six months, sometimes make calls, write SMS, use the mobile Internet, then for him you are a reliable client with whom it is profitable to cooperate.

Retention Service
will offer clients
you get a discount on communication

You want to keep a reliable client, so the operator becomes more accommodating - for this he has a client retention service.

Your old operator will receive a notification from the new one that you have filed for divorce, but you want to keep the child, you have decided to leave, but you want to keep the same number - a customer retention service employee will contact you.

And here it is important to be careful: do not allow him to manipulate you, poison the line, bargain, but at the same time be polite and nice. Most likely, you will be offered a “favorable VIP tariff for special clients” or a fat discount of up to 20% on an existing tariff, so as not to switch to their competitors. That's it, you've won again.

Let's fix:

1. Apply for MNP
2. Waiting for your operator to contact you
3. You complain that it’s expensive and you haggle
4. Profit!

conclusions

1. MNP is the transfer of an old number when changing operators.
2. An application to port a number can be submitted directly in the office, by phone or on the website of the future operator.
3. If you complete the transfer remotely, they will send you a courier who will bring the entire package of documents and a new SIM card.
4. MNP works only with federal numbers issued in the same region where you are applying for your future SIM card.
5. To apply for MNP you will need: certainty, 100 rubles, a passport and a completed application for number porting.
6. Full number transfer is carried out within 8 days.
7. If you still decide not to change the operator, then you can cheat: write an application for MNP, wait for a call from a customer retention service employee, bargain and get yourself a discount on communication.

Owners of “direct city numbers” are still forced to put up with the status of “mobile slaves”. They cannot retain a short number while moving from one operator to another - there is no technical possibility. In the case of “federal format” numbers, there are no problems - it takes no more than 9 days to port the number. However, as the correspondent was assured website Representatives of cellular networks, even those with federal telephone numbers, are in no hurry to change their operator. The service turned out to be less in demand than expected. They thought that about 3-4% of clients would want to throw off the shackles of “mobile slavery”; in fact, those who wished to use the service of porting a number from one operator to another (MNP) were no more than 1%.

According to official data, in Russia more than a million people changed their cellular operator while maintaining their own subscriber numbers. Operators are reluctant to share statistics by region. More precisely, they don’t share at all. Trade secret.

Our interest in the topic arose after an employee of our editorial office was unable to change the operator. He has a direct landline number - the operator Rostelecom. I wanted to “escape” to Megafon. But in one of the communication shops of the federal operator, where he applied, he was refused with the explanation: Rostelecom will not give this number to another operator - you will not be able to save a direct city number.

As Rostelecom explained, the usual numbering of a city number, although with a federal superstructure, can still be preserved. Let's say your number is XX-XX-XX, and when you call another mobile phone, +79044ХХХХХХ is displayed. At the same time, you can be reached by dialing any option. In the format +79044ХХХХХХ you can switch to any other operator, this number will be valid and serviced. But at the same time, the direct city number XX-XX-XX will not belong to you. It can be transferred to another user. And most likely, the number will be “linked” to a landline connection.

“In response to your request about the service of porting a number from one operator to another (MNP), I note that the service, as time has shown, is not popular among subscribers in the Tyumen region. Less than 1 percent of subscribers wished to transfer their number both to and from the Rostelecom network during the period of validity of the MNP service. This corresponds to the general Russian market trend. At the same time, subscribers most often switched to the cellular network under the Rostelecom brand from VimpelCom, as well as, in descending order, Megafon and MTS. We are ready, in accordance with current legislation, to transfer numbers from subscribers of other operators, provided that the subscriber has no debt, the number is registered in the Tyumen region and there are no other restrictions, for example, it is impossible to transfer a landline number from operator to operator,” commented Svetlana Rychkova, public relations manager at Tele2 Ural region. For reference: this structure oversees all issues related to the provision of mobile communications from Rostelecom. Rebranding is planned in the near future.

Megafon also admits that the MNP service, although in demand, is not as in demand as expected. The company notes the positive dynamics of “migration” of clients of other operators.

“Subscribers continue to use the mobile number portability service, but without much excitement. Since the abolition of the so-called “mobile slavery”, we have noted a positive trend in transitions to us: many more people come to our network than leave. Most often, we are chosen by people who need fast mobile Internet,” explained Svetlana Zakharova, PR manager of the Tyumen branch of MegaFon. — Now the process of changing the operator while maintaining the usual phone number works smoothly. To switch, you need to complete two simple steps: pay off the debt to the previous operator and write an application in the new operator’s salon or fill it out on the online store’s website. In just nine days, the subscriber will be served on our network. An important point to remember: if your last name, passport details, or registration have changed, you need to update the data in the system of the operator with whom the contract for communication services was concluded. The data in the application and the system must match 100%. The reasons for refusal to port a number may vary. The most common of them are the discrepancy between the declared passport data and the data specified in the contract with the previous operator, and the presence of debt with the previous operator. To make a successful transition, you need to pay off the debt and verify your passport data. It is also important to remember that at the moment it is possible to transfer only federal numbers from one telecom operator to another. Owners of city numbers express a desire to change their operator to MegaFon and are waiting for the possibility of transfer.”

According to experts, transferring city numbers “from operator to operator” is not yet possible for technical reasons related to the properties of the equipment used to connect to the city network with short numbers. And this is taken into account in the legislation. “Mobile slavery” for owners of direct landline numbers will end only when solutions are found that will remove technical restrictions.

Nikita SMIRNOV