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Number Porting FAQ – Category A or C or M

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What is a Category A number?

  • Most small business number ports are category A , which generally consists of a single business phone number. These are mostly found to be connected to a regular copper phone line or NBN phone ports running into the back of an NBN modem.
  • Typically a category A number won’t have any complex services on it. Such as line hunt and fax duet.

What is a Category C number?

Category C numbers are numbers that are provided with complex services. There are specific cases which cause a number to be Category C, these can be:

  • Numbers delivered over an ISDN / PRI circuit.
  • If your number has a hunt group. (E.g. One phone rings, then the next, or if busy the call jumps to phone 2, etc)
  • You have a Fax Duet service connected (E.g. One line detects incoming Fax’s and sends it to a Fax Machine)
  • Are part of a range of numbers. (E.g. You have 100 numbers or 10 numbers on your current bill)
  • Are part of a Telstra DOT or Optus Loop system.

If you have a single number but it is a Category C service, you may be able to convert it to a Category A service by having services removed or splitting it from a number group. To do this you will need to contact your current provider as it cannot be done during porting.

What is a Category M number?

Category M numbers relate to Australian Mobile numbers. These numbers generally port without issue as they are usually not connected to any complex service.

How long does it take to port a number?

Category A ports: 1 to 2 weeks

Category C ports: 6 to 8 weeks (These are variable and we will keep you updated on port progress)

Category M ports: 1 – 2 weeks

1300/1800 Number ports: 1 – 2 weeks