To port your number in South Africa, you ask your new provider to start the port. You don't cancel with your old provider first. You give the new provider proof that you own the number, they submit the request, and the number moves across on an agreed date. With Telecloud, a port switches over after 7 working days.

This guide covers what to gather, the steps in order, why ports get stuck, and how to avoid dead air on the day. It is written for businesses moving a landline, an 087 number or a mobile number to a new provider or to a cloud phone system.

What does it mean to port a number?

Number porting (also called number portability) lets you keep your existing phone number when you change provider. Customers, suppliers and printed stationery keep working, because the number stays the same and only the network behind it changes.

People searching for "port my number" are usually in one of three situations:

Moving from a traditional landline to a hosted Cloud PBX.
Moving a number to a different provider because of service or cost.
Bringing an existing number onto Microsoft Teams calling through Operator Connect.

The process is broadly the same in each case. What changes is where the number lands once it moves.

What do you need before you port a number?

Have this ready before you contact the new provider. Missing or mismatched paperwork is the most common reason a port is delayed.

What	Why it matters
The full list of numbers to port	Include every number on the account, including any direct dial ranges, fax or alarm lines.
Account holder name and account number	These must match what your current provider has on file.
A recent invoice or statement from your current provider	Shows the numbers are on the account and who the account holder is.
Company registration details or ID document	Proves the person porting is entitled to do so.
A signed letter of authority	Gives the new provider permission to move the numbers on your behalf.

Your new provider will tell you exactly which documents they need. Ask for the list at the start so you only gather paperwork once.

How to port your number in South Africa: the steps

Check that the number can be ported. Tell the new provider the number and its type (geographic, 087 or other non-geographic, or mobile) and confirm it can move.
Get your current account details. Find the account holder name, account number and the numbers on the account. Check the spelling against your invoice.
Sign the porting paperwork. This is normally a porting request form and a letter of authority, signed by someone with authority on the account.
Let the new provider submit the request. The new provider starts the port, not you and not the old provider. Don't cancel your existing service at this stage.
Set up the new service before the switch. Create extensions, call routing, opening-hours rules and voicemail on the new platform, so calls land somewhere useful the moment the number moves.
Wait out the porting period. A Telecloud port switches over after 7 working days. Working days exclude weekends and public holidays, so the calendar time can be longer.
Test after the switch. Call the number from a mobile on another network and from a landline. Check inbound calls reach the right people, then check outbound caller ID.
Close the old account. Once you have confirmed the number works on the new service, cancel whatever is left with the old provider, subject to its notice terms.

How long does it take to port a number?

A port with Telecloud switches over after 7 working days. Count from the day the request is submitted, not the day you first enquire. If a form is incomplete or the details don't match, the clock can't start properly.

Plan around that window:

Avoid timing a port for the week of a campaign launch, month-end or a public holiday.
Do not give the old provider notice to cancel until the number is confirmed working on the new service.
Tell your team the date, so someone is watching calls on the day.

Why do number ports fail or get delayed?

Most delays come from the paperwork, not the technology. These are the usual causes:

Name mismatch. The company name on the form is a trading name, but the account is in the registered name (or the other way round).
Numbers not on the account. A number on your list belongs to a different account, or is billed through a reseller.
Account already cancelled. If the old service is closed before the port completes, the number can be lost or hard to recover.
Unsigned or unauthorised forms. The person who signed isn't the account holder or an authorised representative.
Incomplete number lists. A forgotten fax, lift or alarm line stays behind on the old provider while the main numbers move.

Checking each of these before you submit saves days.

Can you port an 087, 0860, 0861 or mobile number?

Geographic numbers (such as a Centurion, Johannesburg or Cape Town landline), non-geographic numbers (such as 087, 0860 and 0861) and mobile numbers are all treated as different number types, and the process differs slightly for each. Whether a specific number can be ported depends on its type and its current provider, so confirm it at the start instead of assuming.

If you are weighing up which kind of number suits your business, Telecloud supplies 087, geographic and mobile numbers and handles porting on the phone numbers and number porting page.

How do you avoid downtime when you port?

A port moves your number. It does not build your phone system for you. Downtime usually happens when the number moves before the destination is ready. Before the switch date:

Finish extension and call-flow setup on the new platform.
Check that handsets, softphones or Teams users are registered and can make calls on temporary numbers.
Write down where each ported number should ring, including after hours.
Keep the old service running until the new one is proven.

If you are moving to a cloud system, it helps to sort out the extensions and handsets first, so the port is the last step. See how hosted Cloud PBX extensions are set up.

Frequently asked questions about porting a number

Do I have to cancel my old provider before I port?

No, and you shouldn't. The new provider starts the port. If you cancel first, you risk losing the number. Cancel only after the number works on the new service, and check your old contract for notice periods and any early-termination terms.

Will my number change when I port it?

No. The point of porting is that the number stays the same. Only the provider and the system behind it change.

How long does it take to port a number in South Africa?

With Telecloud, a port switches over after 7 working days. Other providers may work to different timelines, so ask any provider for theirs in writing before you commit.

Can I port a landline to a cloud phone system or VoIP?

Yes, this is one of the most common reasons to port. The number moves to your new provider and is then routed to a cloud PBX, SIP trunk or Teams. Set up the destination before the switch date.

Can I port one number or must I port the whole account?

Ask your new provider about your specific case. Whether you can move individual numbers or have to move a whole range depends on how the numbers are set up with your current provider.

Ready to port your number?

If you know which numbers you want to move, the next step is to confirm they can be ported and gather the paperwork. Telecloud can walk you through it on the phone numbers page, with no obligation to commit just by asking.

How to Port Your Number in South Africa: Step by Step