How Number Porting Works and How to Keep Your Existing Number

Switching mobile carriers can feel intimidating, especially if you worry about losing your phone number. After all, your number is more than just digits; it is how friends, family and colleagues reach you. 

The good news is that you can keep your existing mobile number when you change carriers in Australia. This is your legal right under the Telecommunications Numbering Plan, and providers must allow you to keep your active number when switching to a new carrier if you request it. 

Number portability hasn’t always existed. It was first mandated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the late 1990s to promote competition and reduce barriers for consumers switching providers.  

Thanks to this mandate: 

• Australians can now switch carriers without having to update all their contacts, bank accounts, and online services. 

• Carriers must compete on price, service quality, coverage, and plan flexibility, rather than locking customers in by forcing them to change numbers. 

In today’s digital world, your mobile number is more than just a contact detail. It links you to essential services and platforms used every day. 

For most Australians, a mobile number is connected to: 

• Banking and financial services, including alerts, payments and two-factor authentication 

• Government services such as MyGov, Medicare and Centrelink 

• Work and professional communications 

• Messaging apps and social platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Signal 

• Online security and identity verification 

Because so many services rely on a single number, losing it can cause major disruption. Without number portability, changing carriers would mean updating accounts, verifying identities and risking access to important services. 

• Convenience: No need to notify the contacts of a new number. 

• Professionalism: Essential if you use your number for work. 

• Security: Many accounts rely on your number for verification. 

According to industry reports, hundreds of thousands of mobile numbers are ported every month in Australia, reflecting strong consumer demand for better deals and services . 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) confirms that telcos must allow customers to port their number when switching providers, and the process is designed to be fast and secure . 

This means you are not alone. Switching carriers is common, safe and supported by regulation. 

1. Check Your Current Contract 

Review lock-in periods or handset repayments. Prepaid users can switch anytime. Yomojo offers no lock-in contracts, so you’ll never face exit fees. 

2. Choose Your New Carrier & Plan 

Look for a provider that matches your needs with data, calls, texts, or family bundles.  Yomojo lets you customise bundles and save up to 15% with family sharing. 

3. Request Number Porting 

When signing up, tick the option to keep your number. Provide your current account details. Yomojo’s online sign-up makes this simple, and they handle the porting for you. 

4. Verify Your Identity 

Australian law requires identity checks to prevent fraud. You’ll need details like your date of birth and account info. 

5. Wait for the Transfer 

Porting usually takes a few hours, sometimes up to 24. Your old SIM will stop working before the new one activates. 

6. Insert Your New SIM & Test 

Once porting is complete, insert your new SIM and test calls, texts, and data. 

Even with number porting, some mistakes can cause frustration: 

❌ Cancelling your old plan too early – Always let your new provider initiate the port. 

❌ Ignoring coverage – Make sure your new provider has good network coverage in your area. Yomojo uses Optus’ 4G/5G network, which is reliable across Australia. 

❌ Overlooking contract obligations – If you’re still paying off a handset, check for any exit fees or repayments. 

❌ Avoid long gaps in activity  
If your old number has not been used for months and has been deactivated, porting will not work. Contact your old provider first.   

• No lock-in contracts for flexibility. 

• Affordable plans starting at $18.90/month. 

• Family bundles with up to 15% savings. 

• Powered by Optus’ 4G/5G network for wide coverage. 

• Easy online switching with eSIM and fast SIM delivery. 

Q: Does it cost money to keep my number when switching?  

A: No, porting is free in Australia . 

Q: How long does it take?  

A: Usually a few hours, but up to 24 in rare cases. 

Q: Will my service be interrupted?  

A: Briefly, while your old SIM deactivates and the new one activates. 

Q: Can I port multiple numbers at once?

A: Yes! Yomojo allows families or businesses to transfer several numbers simultaneously. 

Switching carriers while keeping your number is simple, secure, and stress-free. With Yomojo, you get the best of both worlds: your trusted number plus a smarter, more affordable mobile plan. 

Your number stays the same, and your mobile experience gets a serious upgrade. 

✅ Next Step: Compare Yomojo plans, choose the one that suits you, and port your number with ease. Your new mobile experience awaits!