Australian Telephone Number Porting
CAT-A and CAT-C Inbound 1300 1800
and Geographical Number Porting
Australian Telephone Number Porting Guide
One of the biggest concerns businesses have when switching to a new phone system or SIP trunk provider is whether they can keep their existing phone numbers.
In almost all cases, you can retain your current business telephone numbers through a process known as number porting.
At Telnetworks, we manage the entire number porting process on your behalf, helping minimise disruption and ensuring a smooth transition to your new business voice solution.
What is Number Porting?
Number porting is the process of transferring your existing telephone number from your current telecommunications provider to a new provider without changing the number your customers already know.
All aspects and functionality of your telephone number remains the same. However, the management, operations and billing of the telephone number is taken over by a new telecommunications service provider.
Whether you have National Number (02 XXXX XXXX or like 03 XXXX XXXX) or Inbound 13, 1300 or 1800 number, the processs of porting allows you to maintain continuity while upgrading to modern VoIP or SIP trunk services.
Which Numbers Can Be Ported?
Most Australian business numbers can be transferred, including:
- Geographic numbers (02, 03, 07 and 08 numbers)
- 1300 Inbound Business Numbers
- 1800 Freecall Numbers
- Business Direct Indial (DID) numbers
- Multi-line business services
- Existing SIP or ISDN services (subject to eligibility)
Our team will confirm the eligibility of your services before commencing the porting process.
CAT-A Vs CAT-C Number Porting
What is the difference?
For geographical numbers and inbound number services, the two primary porting processes are Category A (CAT-A) and Category C (CAT-C).
The key difference is the complexity of the service associated with porting the number.
CAT-A is associated with a simple number porting process. In this process, the number would be a singular number with no additional services associated with it. In most cases, a CAT-A porting process can take between 5 to 10 Business days.
CAT-C is used where the number or a range of numbers is part of a more complex service configuration and requires additional validation and coordination between the gaining service provider and losing service provider. Telephone numbers assoicated with ISDN Services, Number Blocks, Hunt Groups are categorized in to this “Complex” porting process. For a CAT-C type number porting the timeline can take between 20 to 40 days.
Once the telephone numbers have been confirmed, Telnetworks technicians will be able to confirm the exact time frame involved in porting your telephone number to our network.
How The Number Porting Process Works
We aim to make the transition as straightforward as possible
The typical Telephone Number Process with Telnetworks involves the following steps:
Review Your Existing Services
We assess your current phone numbers and services to confirm they are eligible for porting.
Submit a Porting Request
You’ll complete a simple Porting Authority Form (PAF), allowing Telnetworks to coordinate with your existing provider.
Schedule the Port Date
Once approved, we’ll work with you to select a suitable migration date that minimises disruption to your operations.
Configure Your New Phone System
Your SIP trunks or cloud phone system are configured and tested before the port occurs.
Complete the Number Transfer
On the scheduled port date, your numbers are transferred to the Telnetworks Voice Network. Most businesses experience little to no interruption during the changeover process.
Post-Migration Testing
We verify inbound and outbound calling, call routing, voicemail, and any integrations to ensure everything is operating correctly.
Preparing for Number Porting
To help avoid delays, we recommend:
- Keeping your existing service active until the port is complete.
- Providing accurate account details that match your current provider’s records.
- Informing us of any special call routing or business-critical requirements.
- Scheduling the port during a suitable maintenance window if your business has high call volumes.
Our engineers will guide you through each stage of the migration and coordinate the process from start to finish.
Why Choose Telnetworks for Number Porting & DID Hosting?
Migrating business phone services doesn’t have to be complicated.
With extensive experience delivering business telecommunications solutions across Australia, Telnetworks provides:
- End-to-end porting management
- Australian-based technical support
- Assistance with complex multi-site migrations
- Minimal disruption to business operations
- Pre-port testing and post-port validation
- Ongoing support after your migration
Whether you’re moving from traditional phone lines, ISDN, another SIP provider, or upgrading to a modern cloud communications platform, our team will ensure your transition is managed professionally and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Telephone Number Porting and DID Hosting
Can I keep my existing business phone number?
Yes. Most Australian business numbers, including local, 1300, and 1800 numbers, can be ported to a new provider, subject to eligibility.
Will my business experience downtime during the port?
Most number ports are completed with minimal interruption. Telnetworks carefully plans each migration to reduce any impact on your business operations.
Can I port numbers from another VoIP provider?
Yes. Business numbers can often be transferred between VoIP, SIP trunk, and traditional telecommunications providers, provided the numbers are eligible.
Do I need to cancel my existing phone service?
No. Do not cancel your existing service until the number port has been successfully completed. Cancelling beforehand may result in the loss of your phone numbers.
Australian Number Porting and DID Hosting
Built for Business & Corporate Networks