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IP Number Porting FAQs

List of useful FAQS to help you if you have a query about IP number porting.

What is a Geographic / Geo Number?

A Geographic /Geo Number is a number beginning with 01xxx or 02xxx.

When should I contact the Number Porting Team about a Geo Number porting query?

If you've checked the notes on your order on the BT Wholesale Portal and you cannot find the answer to your query, please contact the Number Porting Team by using our eChat facility.

When should I contact the Number Porting Team by phone about a Geo Number porting enquiry?

If your questions can't be resolved by eChat or email please contact the Number Porting Team on 0800 077 8247, select option 1 and then select option 4.

How can I request access to the IP Exchange application on My BT Wholesale?

To request access to the IP Exchange application, you’ll need a My BT Wholesale account. If you don’t have one yet, go to our registration pages.

 

To request access to the IP Exchange application:

 

     1.  Log in to My BT Wholesale with your username and password
     2.  Select My apps, then App A-Z and choose the letter I
     3.  From here, open 'IP Exchange' and choose to Register for app.

 

If you experience difficulties registering for the app, the IP Exchange helpdesk will be able to assist on 0800 077 8247 – select option 1 and then option 1 again.

 

Or if you have problems logging in to your My BT Wholesale account, you’ll find more help in our Login Help pages.

Where can I download the Communications Provider Identity (CUPID) codes?

CUPID codes are maintained by Ofcom. Please visit their site at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/numbering/.

Where can I access Range Holder information?

Range Holder information is maintained by Ofcom. To check who a Range Holder is for a number you want to port, please check the Ofcom Numbering site before placing an order.

What is a Range holder?

The Range Holder is the Communications Provider (CP) who has been allocated a range of numbers by Ofcom that includes the number to be ported.

 

Range Holders have an obligation under General Condition 18 to export numbers.

 

A Range Holder may opt to host their number range with another CP (i.e. the Host CP) on the basis of a bilateral agreement between the 2 parties concerned.

 

In these circumstances, the Host CP will undertake all number porting import/export activities on behalf of the Range Holder.

I am unable to place an order for a new Geo Number port as there is an open order. What do I do?

In the first instance, please contact the Number Porting Team to by using our eChat facility. If this cannot be resolved please call us on 0800 077 8247, select option 1 and then select option 4.

Can you tell me who the current CP is for a Geo Number I want to port?

It is the responsibility of the person placing the order (Gaining CP) to get Losing CP information from their end customer.

My Geo Number port order has been rejected due to an incorrect post code, are you able to help?

It is the responsibility of the Gaining CP (GCP) to get this information from their end customer.

What is the pre-order validation process (POV) and how can I sign up for the POV service?

POV is the process that provides the Gaining CP with the ability to contact Losing CPs for information about a Geo Number (a number starting with 01xxx, 02xx) that is to be ported.

 

To register for POV, you'll find sign up details on the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator's website. Please download the Pre-order validation process document.

Where can I find details of lead times for different porting order types for Geo Numbers?

For details of lead times for different porting order types, i.e. Single line, Multiline, ISDN 30, DASS orders etc. Please see the Number Portability Handbook which you can download from the Handbook and Technical section of the IP Exchange Product page.

There are different Number Porting order types – ISDN and DASS orders – How do these differ?

ISDN Geo Number port orders are processed via the IP Exchange application on My BT Wholesale.

 

Geo Number port orders for DASS circuit/bearers are processed manually due to the complexity within the Openreach workflow. For DASS orders, please download and complete the manual order form and then email to: wolverhamptonnumberportability@bt.com.

I am unable to place a Geo Number port request via My BT Wholesale, what should I do?

Although the preferred method of submitting Geo Number port orders is via the IP Exchange Application on My BT Wholesale, there are instances where Geo Number port orders may have to be placed manually.

 

For example Geo Number port orders with more than 8 DDI ranges, and Featurenet Geo Number ports.  There may however be other circumstances where this is necessary, including DASS orders (see FAQ titled 'Where can I find details of lead times for different porting order types for Geo Numbers?' above). 

 

For manual orders please complete the manual order form and email to: wolverhamptonnumberportability@bt.com

What is 'Scenario 7' and how does it work?

Scenario 7 is the Porting of CP owned Geo Number ranges that are hosted on IP Exchange.

 

For more information about this, please download the Scenario 7 Order Flow .

How often will the Number Porting Team contact the Losing CP /RH to chase Geo Number port orders?

The chase timeline is as follows:

 

     •   Auto generated chase emails are sent at 24 hours and 48 hours for Single line orders.

 

     •   Auto generated chase emails are sent at 48 hours and at 72 hours for Multi line orders.

 

     •   If there is still no response from the Losing CP/Range Holder, a jeopardy monitoring team will make voice contact with the
         Losing CP/Range Holder daily via Openreach. These updates will be visible to you on the external Geo Number porting
         notes field on the BT Wholesale Portal.

When should I call the Number Porting Team to get an update on my Geo Number port order?

Please see FAQ titled ' How often will the Number Porting Team contact the Losing CP /RH to chase Geo Number port orders?'  above for number porting order chase time lines.

 

For the latest updates on the Number Porting orders, please check the IP exchange Application via My BT Wholesale.

What does Delay in Validation status mean?

This status is generated when intervention is required to validate number porting data that has been incorrectly submitted or does not match the number porting data held within the BT numbering inventory. This will be picked up by the Number Porting Team Exception duty

What does the 'Provisional Acceptance' status mean?

Provisional Acceptance' means that the Geo Number port order has been acknowledged and is going through Openreach validation and where applicable validation by the ISDN 30 team.

Why are some of the Rejection reasons shown on My BT Wholesale vague /unclear?

All rejections are generated by the Losing CP and then processed by us.

 

Unfortunately, we cannot validate the accuracy of the rejections as we don’t have access to the number porting data on the Losing CPs' systems. In instances where the Main Billing Number (MBN) and postcode do not match the validation will not proceed any further.

How many Geo Number port order queries can I place on an email to the Number Porting Team?

Please send one Geo Number port order query per email to the Number Porting Team.

 

You will also need to ensure that your main billing number is provided in the subject header of any emails you send.

What is the latest date/time I can request a date change on my Geo Number port order?

For Single line/Multi line Geo Number port orders date changes can be submitted on the BT Wholesale Portal before 4pm the last working day before the day of port.

As the Gaining CP do we need to contact the Number Porting Team on the day of port for manual ports?

Yes, all Geo Number port orders that are placed manually need to be called through to the Number Porting Team on the Day of Port for both Single & Multiline number porting orders.

 

Please call the Number Porting Team on 0800 077 8247, select option 1 and then select option 4.

When do CPs need to activate Single Line Geo Number port orders on My BT Wholesale?

For Single line Geo Number port order activations, please refer to the IP Exchange Application via My BT Wholesale which will provide a list of the CPs that require activation on Day of Port.

Which CPs require a call on Day of Port for Single line fixed time Geo Number port orders?

The CPs who need a call on Day of Port  are:

 

Kcom - Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 005
Affiniti - Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 029
Talk Talk - Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 820
Level 3 - Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 804
Energis – Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 026
Voxbone - Communication Provider Identity Code (CUPID) 388

Can I be advised if an ISDN30 Geo Number port order, will take more than the allotted 3 hours?

Geo Number port orders are processed by BT in date order, and will be dependent on the complexity of the installation.

How many activations for Geo Number port orders can I call in on Day Of Port?

For multiple Geo Number port orders of three or more that require activation on Day of Port, please use the batch file process below.

 

1. Complete the Batch File spreadsheet – this can be used for multiple activations for both Single and Multi lines. You can have a maximum of 20 requests per sheet

 

2. Once you've complete the spreadsheet , please email the file to : wolverhamptonnumberportability@bt.com before 11.30am on the Day of Port

What is the Emergency restore process?

You can find information about the Emergency restore process in the Number Portability Handbook which you can download from the Handbook and Technical section of the IP Exchange Product page.

 

A call must be made into the Number Porting Team requesting an Emergency Restore at which point this will be requested of the Losing CP/Range Holder.

I am unable to configure my Geo Number port order on My BT Wholesale, What should I do?

First of all, please check the IP Exchange Application on My BT Wholesale for order date and time.

 

If the porting time of the number porting order has not been reached you will not be able to configure/activate the number porting order.

 

There is a time limit of 3 hours to configure/activate the number porting order once the time window has opened, i.e. Port time is 10am you will need to configure/activate by 1pm.

 

If you don’t configure/activate within the 3 hour window, the number porting order will time-out for Single/Multiline number porting orders.

 

On the IP Exchange Application you will need to amend the number porting order with a new date. A minimum of 4 working days lead time is required to ensure the new date can be accepted by all parties.

Are there any useful links for Number Porting?

Please find some useful links for Number Porting below:

 

Pre order Validation

 

CUPID List

 

Numbering and Number Portability Handbooks, Industry Briefings, Annex A Rate Card

 

Ofcom Numbering Database

 

OFCOM Number Portability Industry Documents

 

 

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