Local Number Porting Guide (LNP)

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General OverviewLocal Number Portability (LNP) enables customers in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico to port their existing telephone number/s (PSTN, VoIP or Mobile TNs) from one phone service provider to another. Skyswitch provides a portal to initiate the porting process.The general rule of thumb in porting numbers is to provide accurate information. Incorrect data can cause major delays in the porting process. Rejections will restart the whole process and will potentially move out the requested FOC date. It is highly advisable to get the Customer Service Record from the losing carrier to avoid these delays.While consumers who wish to switch carriers may request to port numbers to a new carrier at any time, they are still obligated to pay any early termination fees they may have under an existing contract and any outstanding balance owed to the old carrier. Consumers interested in switching providers should review their existing contracts to determine what fees or charges would apply.However, it is important to note that once a consumer has requested service from a new carrier, the old carrier may not delay or refuse to port a number even if that individual owes money for an outstanding balance or termination fee.Though the porting process is largely similar, there are unique differences due to internal procedures and individualized systems between carriers. Porting requires the cooperation of the involved parties to achieve a smooth porting process. SkySwitch aims to provide partners with the best porting experience by creating a portal to assist with the porting process.Please be sure to visit the related articles below for more information regarding these ordered LNP processes.Processing Port RequestsCarrier Pending and RejectionFOC (Firm Order Confirmation)CNAM and Directory ListingLNP FlowchartThe flowchart below will give you a general overview of the entire LNP process, from Port request submission to Activation and order completion.Port In Request SubmissionManaging Port RequestManaging Port Request is a feature made available to the Partners for them to have a general overview of their phone numbers and port requests respectively. This feature allows Partners to view the current Order, PON (Port Order Number), and Phone number status in one window. Partners will also have the ability to check the real-time PON updates directly from the Carrier’s Portal by clicking the PON next to the number they would like to view. The Partners will also be directed to the RT by clicking the ticket number in the RT ticket column. For more information on how to navigate the Managing Port Requests, see our Managing Port Requests article.FeesWe will charge you a one-time fee for each number that we port from another provider. Expedited port requests, which require manual processing, may be charged an additional expedite fee. You acknowledge and agree that additional fees may be assessed for canceling or changing a port order once submitted. Such fees are determined by how soon before or after the FOC date a port is canceled. You certify that valid authorization will be obtained for each port request, and you will furnish a Letter of Authority evidencing such authorization upon request. In the event that we receive a complaint about slamming, you agree to use your best efforts to provide evidence that the port was initiated in good faith. You shall pay a ‘Slamming fee’ penalty of $400 for any port request that is submitted without valid authorization.  Refer to your services agreement for pricing details.For common porting questions, please refer to our LNP FAQs here!