The number of subscribers switching to another operator while keeping their numbers has increased in Ukraine

Mobile Number Portability (MNP), a mobile number portability service that allows users to transfer their mobile number with full retention when switching to another mobile operator, is growing in popularity in Ukraine.

Source. This was reported by the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and Postal Services (NCCS) on Facebook.

In particular, from May 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023, about 288 thousand mobile subscribers used the MNP service. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, more than 35 thousand numbers were ported, which demonstrates the growth of its popularity compared to previous years.

For comparison, 229.6 thousand numbers were ported from May 1, 2019, to October 15, 2022.

According to the company, the largest number of subscriber numbers were ported from Vodafone (123.46 thousand). The largest increase in transfers was to Lifecell (166.65 thousand).

Between May 1, 2019 and March 31, 2023, 123.46 thousand numbers were transferred from Vodafone, and 57.88 thousand subscribers switched to the operator. Kyivstar lost 120.37 thousand subscribers and added 60.11 thousand, Intertelecom – 3.64 thousand and 1.38 thousand, respectively, Lifecell – 38.12 thousand and 166.65 thousand, respectively, and TriMob – 1.89 thousand and 1.46 thousand, respectively.

In January-March 2023, 14.21 thousand subscriber numbers were transferred from Vodafone, 7.65 thousand numbers were transferred to the operator, 15 thousand and 3.2 thousand from Kyivstar, 318 and 6 from Intertelecom, 5.5 thousand and 24.22 thousand from Lifecell, and 82 and 25 from TriMob, respectively.

In addition, the number of applications for number portability in the period under review amounted to 26.79 thousand from Vodafone and 10.65 thousand from those wishing to switch operators, 24.4 thousand and 4.5 thousand from Kyivstar, 107 and 30 from Intertelecom, 8.25 thousand and 44.53 from Lifecell, and 181 and 28 from TriMob, respectively.

The mobile number portability (MNP) service is an effective tool for consumer protection, the Commission emphasized.

The MNP service is provided:

• on the principle of a single window "One Stop Shop process", which allows the subscriber to resolve all issues related to number portability by applying directly to the operator to which the subscriber plans to switch to continue receiving services
• on the basis of an application for number portability, which is submitted either in paper form to the customer service point or remotely by filling out an interactive application form on the official website of such an operator
• the period within which the subscriber's number must be ported is 1 business day.

In addition, you can buy an eSIM online or buy a starter package of the selected operator and enter the new SIM card details on the online website before the porting date. The number will be transferred to this card. You can also get a SIM card in a store, at the time of application, but no later than three hours before the number porting time specified in the application.