You can attempt to
change your existing 'complex' service with Telstra to a CAT-A or
'simple' service so it can be ported quick and easily, and to avoid the
slow, expensive CAT-C process. Note: It is not possible to convert every
number from a 100-block to CAT A services, but you can take the numbers
you need.
What is a CAT-C or CAT-A service?
Although
it is now mostly due to the legacy systems of Australia's largest
carriers, the type of service is decided by the carrier and this affects
how it can be ported. The Category-A porting system is (relatively)
fast and automatic, so phone numbers that are set up as a basic calling
service, or an exchange based divert can be ported quickly and easily.
In most cases, humans have nothing to do with it!
Is your telco
from another era? Category-C services are defined as 'complex' services
by providers that are stuck in the last century. They require a slow and
expensive triple-handling of the porting information, compulsory
delays, and quite often human error. These ports are project managed by
people from all providers in the loop over email, and the reasoning in
this day and age is not totally clear. ISDN, multiple consecutive numbers delivered to a single line or service, line-hunt or fax duet - these are just a few 'complex services' that would cause the phone number to be rejected if it was ported as CAT-A.
Transitioning your CAT-C service to CAT-A
It is not always possible without disruption. Make sure you ask your provider what impact any of these actions might have.
This article is new, and we will attempt to cover more scenarios in the future.
Our primary recommendation: Reducing
your service to a single-line service with no complex services is the
best way to port as CAT-A. Most providers will tell you if the service
can be ported as CAT-A, so be sure to ask.
Remove Complex Services:
If you have easily removable complex services like line-hunt or fax
duet - just ask for them to be removed. (Note this may reduce your
ability to take multiple incoming calls until the number has been ported
across)
Splitting a block of numbers: If you have a
block of phone numbers, and you want to keep just one or two, then ask
your provider to split off the numbers to a separate service (or even
better, a separate account completely). This may take some convincing
but it is not impossible.
A note about exchange based diverts:
It is sometimes possible to have a phone number that was once regarded
as a complex service, changed to an 'exchanged based divert' or 'ongoing
redirection'. These are normally portable as CAT-A as long as they are
not fixed-term (3,6,12 month) and have no intended future disconnection
date.
Important: Ensure that your provider is not
re-contracting you to a service - make sure to ask what costs are
involved and whether there will be any disruption to your service. You
should ask the provider if the service can now be ported as CAT-A, and
if possible get it in writing as they will sometimes still reject the
CAT-A porting request, and their email can be used to dispute the
rejection.
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