How to change operator but keep the number. Changing the operator while maintaining the number - what to do

A law recently adopted in the Russian Federation finally allowed users mobile communications seamlessly switch to other operators while maintaining your number. Everyone had been waiting for this for a long time, since the previous conditions hampered the development of the communications market and limited the rights of users. Now, changing an unprofitable operator has become available to everyone. Next, we will present ways to switch to the most famous telecommunications companies.

What you need to have to change your number

First of all, the desire to leave the current one in order to switch to another operator. It is most important. And only then you need to remember to take your passport and a small amount of money (up to 100 rubles) with you. If successful, notify the current supplier telephone services you won’t even need it: change it and forget it. However, there are exceptional situations when this is necessary. For example, if an error crept into the passport data under the previous contract. Or there is no error, but there was a deliberate change in the passport data. You should also check the SIM card for any unpaid debts for services provided. Because if you do not pay them off, you will hardly be able to change your registration to another telecommunications company with the same number. One more thing important note about the SIM card: Changing the operator while maintaining the number is possible only in the region where the card was previously registered.

So, you have the document, now you can go to the mobile salon whose services you are interested in. Companies had mixed reactions new law, however, they could not help but understand that the fairy tale cannot last forever. Therefore, on the spot you will certainly be able to feel that they are ready for increased competition for precious subscribers. Let's start with how the operator is changed cellular communications on MTS.

The procedure for switching to the MTS operator while maintaining the number

The Russian flagship of cellular communications has enough tempting offers and tariffs to turn your attention to it. Therefore, if the quality of the services provided by the current operator does not satisfy you, then the cost of replacing it with MTS will be exactly 100 rubles. Since there is no remote option for its implementation yet, you will need to personally please their office with your presence. However, most likely, this will soon become possible, since certain mobile operators already have a similar service.

To switch, you need to follow the following instructions:

  1. Notify the MTS office of your intention to change the operator and join their company, while maintaining your current number.
  2. Next, write a corresponding application and conclude a new service agreement. (If the phone number is registered to another person, your application will, of course, be denied. Consent is possible only if a power of attorney was previously issued in your name from him.)
  3. Choose the optimal one tariff plan and get the so-called temporary number MTS, which can be used until the transition procedure is completed (after its completion, your previous number will be attached to the same SIM card).
  4. Pay for the service of switching to MTS, the fee for which is due to the need to maintain the government organization that provides the service.
  5. Since everything in your power has already been done, all that remains is to wait for the results of checking the application for compliance with all standards. Sometimes it takes up to several days, during which the status of the application will be regularly updated through incoming text messages. A day before the end of the transfer procedure, a notification will be sent to the temporary number about the exact time and date of its implementation.

If the user has questions during this time, he can always dial 8 800 250 8 250 for free.

Procedure for switching to Megafon operator

This operator also boasts advantageous offers with significant differences from the tariffs of their competitors. For example, the transition operation under consideration with the transfer of the current number from the Megafon operator can be carried out remotely. At the same time, the cost remained the same - 100 rubles.

To take advantage remotely and change the operator without changing the number, you need to follow the following instructions:

  1. Visit the official Megafon website and find the “Go with your number” column. Fill out an online application, which requires free shipping new contract and SIM card.
  2. After reviewing the application, Megafon’s office will contact you and inform you of the time when their employee should arrive. His responsibilities include delivery of documentation, acceptance of a one-time payment for the transition while maintaining his number, as well as concluding an appropriate agreement. In addition, if necessary, he can help determine the company’s tariff plan. However, first he will have to check your passport.
  3. Further, at the discretion of the user, they will provide possible transition periods, which for Megafon range from a week to six months. After successful completion of the operation, you should receive a confirmation SMS message.

If the user does not have the opportunity to receive a Megafon employee in his home or there is another reason (for example, this is possible in cities where the service is not provided), then he should contact the Megafon communication salon. They will also provide detailed consultations on how to change mobile operator, and will help you fill out your application.

Procedure for switching to the Beeline operator

You can do without the need to change your number with Beeline. Standard price 100 rub. Since the company does not yet provide for remote transfer under its control, a visit to the office will be required.

To switch, you need to follow the following instructions:

  • contact the Beeline office with the intention of changing the current operator without changing the number;
  • write a corresponding statement;
  • decide on a favorable tariff plan and, after paying for the service, receive a temporary SIM card. Within a week after confirmation of all the data specified in the application, the required number will be attached to it.

It is legally approved that a change of operator while saving the number must be completed within 8 days. However, the user has the right to postpone the transfer for a longer period, to which the operator should not object.

A day before the completion of the procedure for switching to a temporary Beeline SIM card, you should receive a confirmation SMS message.

Procedure for switching to Tele2 operator

Enough low prices this operator cannot fail to attract the attention of the subscriber. The coverage area is already large enough for everyone to know about the company.

So, to switch you need to follow the following instructions:

  • contact a communication salon with the intention of changing the operator, keeping the number. Be sure to take your passport with you;
  • write a corresponding statement with the participation of Tele2 employees;
  • pay for the service and receive a temporary SIM card, which will accept your number after the operation is completed;
  • then you should expect confirmation of a successful procedure within 8 days from the date of execution of the contract;
  • a day before, you should receive an SMS notifying you that the rolling number will be activated soon.

Is it possible to avoid problems during the operation?

There is a useful resource, the purpose of which is to identify and advertise hidden moments of operators’ actions. Despite the apparent uniformity of performing the transfer operation while saving the phone number on all operators, the cunning of some was clearly demonstrated. Therefore, before moving to one or another operator without changing the number, it is recommended to study them. Let's briefly list them:

  1. If everything is fine with the documents, contact the current supplier cellular services can be avoided. If there are obvious differences, then a meeting with its representatives is inevitable. In this case, the user is not obliged to provide the true reason for his intentions; he may simply want to correct his data.
  2. Since the waiting time for the transfer operation to be completed is at least 8 days, there is a possibility that the money on the temporary card balance may run out. And going into negative territory will mean that there will be a risk of a ban on changing the number. And then, because of the system, the user will have to reapply to switch to another operator.
  3. A day before the completion of the operation without number porting, when an SMS notification should arrive, sudden communication problems may occur. That is, even before the new SIM card is activated, the old one will stop working. There is also a possibility that if you change your telecom operator there will be no service for some time after the successful completion of the procedure.
  4. The most unexpected moment for users is that at first (and sometimes this time can last up to several weeks) payment for services will have to be made only in the communication shop. The functioning of standard balance replenishments using a bank card or electronic payment systems will be temporarily disabled.
  5. Also, the ability to switch for city numbers is not yet available. It is impossible to change the operator without changing the current number; the user will be issued a new, replaced one.

As a conclusion, we can once again emphasize that the law has finally taken the side of users. Changing an operator without porting a number has become accessible to everyone and does not involve any special difficulties.


Last December 2013, a law came into force on maintaining the old phone number when changing operators. But surveys have shown that not all cellular users are aware of this law. And those who know are not always aware of how to correctly change the operator while maintaining the number. Below is a complete list of steps that must be taken if you want to change the operator while keeping your number. There are also several recommendations that will ensure maximum convenient transition from the old operator to another.

The MNP service implies the ability for a subscriber of any cellular communication to keep with him when switching to the service of another cellular operator old number mobile phone. After the Law “On Communications” comes into force, mobile operators must accept applications from subscribers to switch to their network with an old phone number.


How to change operator while keeping your number

Until April 15, 2014, operators only tested and configured the interaction of their systems with the database of all numbers, with other operators and third parties (payment systems, foreign operators, operators related to fixed line and etc.). But, meanwhile, now you can begin to realize your dream of switching to another operator, while maintaining your old number. To change your operator while keeping your number, you only need four steps.


  1. First step. With your passport, go to the office of the operator you want to switch to. Other documents will not be useful to you in this matter. But please note that the number you would like to keep is registered specifically to you. The operator will refuse to transfer if the number was registered to another person. In addition, the number must be in the same region where the network you are switching to is located.
  2. Second step. When you come to the salon of the operator you need, write an application for transfer to their service, indicate in it your passport details, what operator you used to have and the phone number that you decided to leave. The new operator must also sign a service agreement. On this moment main operators ( Beeline, MTS And Megaphone) cellular communications may indicate more early date drawing up a contract. On the day specified in the contract, you will already be required to be serviced by the new operator. Don't forget to get a SIM card with its logo from the new operator. You will need to insert it into the phone at the time that the operator tells you, and you will begin to be serviced with the number transferred from the old SIM card. The received SIM card must be paid for (depending on the operator’s tariffs), number transfer is also subject to payment (not for all operators), it should not cost more than one hundred rubles. After this, you need to wait for a notification about the start of the SIM card. You will not need to go to your previous operator.
  3. Third step. Next, you will receive consent from the new operator or refusal of your transfer. The reasons for refusal are indicated in the “first step”. Also, the reason for refusal may be your debt to the previous operator.
  4. Fourth step. At the specified hour, you need to insert a new SIM card into your phone. At this moment, there may be a short technological break (no more than half an hour), and then your operator will automatically be replaced.
  • Before writing an application to switch to another operator, think about whether this is really necessary for you. After all, if you later want to return your old operator, you will have to wait at least 2 months to do this.
  • Remember that the new operator may not have the same services as the old one, short numbers there will be others for technical teams. Also, if you change your operator, alerts or other services from your bank will be disabled, and in order to reconnect them, you will have to visit the bank.
  • Even if you really want to change your operator, don’t rush to do it. The transition system has just started working and is still undergoing testing. If suddenly some error occurs in the system, it will affect your connection. Think about how much you need it.

The main thing to remember is that if you decide to change the operator while keeping the number, then this procedure It doesn’t happen instantly, but takes a certain amount of time.

Quite recently, when changing operators, it was impossible to keep a number already known to all friends and colleagues; it was necessary to change your SIM card to a card from another mobile communication service provider. But times change, and the so-called “slavery” was abolished by a decision of the Government, and from now on it is possible to change the operator while maintaining the number.

Many people don’t know how this can be done and how the procedure itself goes. If for some reason you no longer like the quality of services provided or the cost of the tariff, and you decide to change your mobile operator, then carefully read our recommendations.

To change your telecom operator, you must first contact any point of sale of your choice, which is a representative of the new service provider, talk to the seller and make your offer. No one can deny you your legal right; you can save your phone number with any operator, and this is what the government decree was based on.

You don’t have to visit salons and leave a request online. Here's your course of action depending on which service provider you plan to switch to:

  • To switch to the Beeline operator, you can leave a request.
  • To go to MegaFon - .
  • For MTS the site is located.
  • To become a Tele2 subscriber, leave a transfer request.
  • You can become a YOTA subscriber only through the sales office; the online service is not yet available, but you can get full information Can .

After applying for your phone number you will receive a notification with its number, save the information, it will be useful to you.

Requirements when making an application

  • Be the owner of the number.
  • Have no debt on your mobile balance.
  • Visit the selected salon, have at least 100 rubles with you.
  • Show the notification to the employee, he will check it with the existing database.
  • Then you should leave confirmation of the transfer in the form of your consent.
  • To select the desired tariff plan for a new operator - inform the seller about this.
  • After this, they will conclude an agreement with you for the provision of services and ask you to pay the cost of the service 100 rubles.

Based on your application, you will receive a temporary SIM card with the same temporary number until the previous services of the old operator are disconnected. All activities are allotted 8 working days, during which time data will be exchanged between service providers.

You can be provided with the transfer service only if you are in the same region, that is, if the number is registered in Chelyabinsk, then you will not be able to transfer it in the city of Moscow; you should do this only where the SIM card was purchased.

What can the client expect

Of course, losing a subscriber is a nuisance for any operator, so get ready for calls from your old provider - he will definitely try to persuade you not to make the switch, and may even offer an exclusive tariff plan on completely different conditions - at a lower cost and with a greater range of functions. Of course, it’s up to you to decide, but carefully study the manager’s proposals, sometimes in the most simple tariffs can connect, for example, more traffic or minutes per voice communication. Think if this offer is valid long time, then maybe it’s worth abandoning the transition. But if you are determined not to change your position, and to switch in any case, then wait for a message about the coordination of actions between mobile service providers.

What to pay attention to: if you open your page personal account subscriber, then against your tariff plan you will be able to see a link - the number to be transferred, and if you click carelessly, you can also click on the cancel function, since it is written in small print. Be careful if the terms of service provided by your operator do not exactly suit you.

What happens next

For example, with TELE2, a temporary SIM card will have your previous number; you do not need to visit the office separately to change the card.

Other operators, and almost all of them, offer to replace the SIM card issued separately for you; you can pick it up at the office or even order delivery through a courier. But all this will be possible only on one condition that all your personal data indicated in the passport completely coincides with those that you provided to the employee when writing the transfer application.

Draw your attention to! During the first 24 hours, the quality of communication may be poor, this is not because you were stupid and switched to an unreliable operator, it just takes time to register your phone with new network, well, this process just takes some time.

And remember one important thing: for the first 14 days, you can top up your balance only in specialized salons. This is explained by the fact that the SIM card has not yet been fully identified in the new operator’s network.

Can they refuse to transfer?

It often happens that the number was issued too long ago, during which time citizens changed their passport either when they changed their last name or because its service life expired, and the document already has new numbers that do not correspond to the data provided. This is precisely what can serve as the basis for refusal to transfer.

They will not transfer your number even if you owe money. In this case, you need to urgently pay and pay off all debts, then you will not receive a refusal.

It is also impossible to switch your number to another provider if it is assigned the status of a landline phone, such are the conditions of this service.

Availability of several existing operators communications, competing in the quality of their services and prices for communications, makes it difficult to choose the most suitable option. But what confuses subscribers most is the ability to change operators without changing their number. However, today there is such an opportunity - thanks to the current legislation of the Russian Federation. And in this article we will tell you how to switch to MTS while maintaining your number. There is nothing complicated about this; everything will take a little more than a week.

MNP service from MTS

The ability to save your mobile phone number is guaranteed Russian laws. And operators have no choice but to religiously comply with these laws, ensuring technical feasibility transfer. Any category of subscribers, both individuals and corporate clients. Let's see how to switch to MTS with your number and what you need for this.

In this procedure the most an important condition is a complete match of subscriber data. That is, the ported number must be registered to the person who writes the porting application. Otherwise, it will be impossible to switch to MTS while maintaining the number. It is also necessary to check your passport data - if the contract is issued for an old passport, the data in this document must be updated by visiting the office of the current operator.

If you need to switch to MTS while keeping your number, but the contract is signed to another person, you should find the real owner and go with him to re-register. To do this, both subscribers must take their passports with them. As a rule, re-registration is carried out almost instantly, after which you can go to the MTS office to write a transfer application.

Switching to MTS while keeping your number is not so difficult. But other conditions must be taken into account:

  • There should be no debt on your number - be sure to pay off the debt if you want the transfer to be as successful as possible;
  • The number with which you need to switch to MTS and save it should not be blocked - neither automatic, nor judicial, nor voluntary;
  • More than 60 days must have passed since the last transfer between operators - otherwise the preservation (transition) will be denied;
  • The number must be serviced in the current region (in Moscow and the Moscow region) – You won’t be able to switch to MTS with a number from another region.

If your number is registered with the correct passport data, there is no debt on it, it is not blocked and is in working condition, you can safely go to MTS by writing the appropriate application.

Number porting procedure

Let's move on to implementing the practical part of our task - now we will look at how to correctly switch to MTS while maintaining the number. There are two ways to apply:

  • At the service office - take your passport with you and go to the nearest office. Here you will need to fill out an application, indicating your passport details, portable number and desired tariff plan. You will be given a temporary SIM card which you will need to install in your phone on a specified date. Control over the process is carried out through received SMS messages;
  • Online – if you don’t want to leave your apartment or workplace, you can use courier delivery SIM cards and documents. To do this, you need to fill out an online application on the MTS website. Indicate the delivery address in the application and wait for the courier to arrive. He will bring a SIM card and all the documents necessary for the transfer. The further waiting procedure is the same as in the first method.

The application is considered within 8 days from the date of its submission. The transition to MTS while maintaining the number is carried out on the 9th day or on the specified date (but no later than 180 days from the date of submission of the application).

If the data reconciliation process is successful, you will receive an SMS indicating what date and time the transition will take place. Once the process is completed, the old SIM card will become inactive.

Some subtleties and clarifications

Now you know how to switch to MTS while keeping your phone number. Let's now look at some of the intricacies of this process. The first subtlety is that the SIM card issued by MTS will be connected to the “Smart mini” tariff. After the transfer is completed, the tariff will change to the one indicated in the application.

The second subtlety is that since previously the belonging of a number to a particular operator could be determined by the federal code, today this method fails. By calling a number with the prefix +7-926 you can get not to MegaFon, but to MTS. You can determine the ownership of the number on the website pentalweb.ru, indicating it in a certain form. The site belongs to the Central Database of Ported Numbers - this is his official resource, despite his simple appearance and obvious stereotypes.

You can also determine ownership with the command *916*phone_number# (the number is indicated in ten-digit format). The cost of the request is 2.72 rubles.

The third subtlety is that since you were able to switch to MTS while keeping your number, pay attention to the procedure for paying for communication services. Select the “MTS” item in terminals and ATMs, then feel free to enter your number, even if it belonged to Beeline or MegaFon.

In less than two weeks after the MNP law came into force, the number of subscribers who used the service was almost 9.1 thousand people, of which less than 60 users were able to finally complete the transition process, according to analysts’ forecasts, the rush may begin after January 15, 2014 of the year. Let's figure it out how to switch to another operator while keeping your number.

We have prepared a small FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) - answers to your frequently asked questions.

Terms/definitions:

MNP - Mobile Number Portability mobile subscriber) is the ability to save mobile number by a subscriber when changing a cellular operator;

Donor operator – the operator from whom the subscriber leaves;

Recipient operator – the operator to whom the subscriber comes;

BPPN - Database of Portable Numbers;

General issues

1. When will it be possible to switch to another operator with your current number?

By law, all operators must provide the opportunity to transfer numbers from 12/01/2013

2. How and where can a subscriber obtain complete information about the service of changing operators while maintaining their number?

The subscriber can obtain information from the support service of any operator, in offices, or from sales managers.

3. How to switch to another operator while keeping the number?

— A subscriber who wants to change his number contacts the recipient operator (to whom he plans to switch) and writes an application to transfer the number(s).

— The recipient operator concludes a new contract with the client and issues a new SIM card with a temporary number.

— The recipient operator makes a request to port the number to the donor operator (old operator) through BDPN.

— The donor operator checks the possibility of transfer (applicant’s credentials, region compliance, absence of debt, etc.), if everything is OK, then terminates the contract with the subscriber. After confirmation from the donor, a temporary number on new SIM card changes to moved.

4. Do I need to write an application to disconnect the number to the current operator?

A “one-window” procedure will be implemented, when in order to change an operator it will be necessary to contact only the recipient operator (to whom it is planned to switch).

5. Will the service be available for legal entities and individuals, for prepaid and postpaid payment systems?

The service will be available for both individuals. individuals and legal entities. persons and individual entrepreneurs all payment systems.

6. How much will it cost to switch to another operator and what is the cost for the switch if the number is bronze/silver/gold?

In accordance with the law, the transfer cost can be charged by the recipient operator (the one who receives the subscriber). The cost of the transition cannot exceed 100 rubles. The cost of the transition does not depend on the status of the number.

7. Will all operators be required to comply with this law? This refers to local ones (Tele 2, Smarts, etc.). Will it be possible to transfer a subscriber from a local operator?

Yes all mobile operators Russia is required to provide the subscriber with the opportunity to accept/transfer a number to/from another operator.

8. Is it possible to switch between operators in different regions? (for example, change Megafon-Saratov to Beeline-Moscow after moving to another region)

No, the number can only be transferred within one subject of the federation (region, territory)

9. How long will it take to switch from one operator to another, and will the client be left without communication for some time?

IN current version According to the law, the maximum time for number translation for legal entities. persons 30 days. The interruption in the provision of communication services during the transition can be up to 3 hours.

10. Can a subscriber cancel a change of operator before it is approved?

Maybe while the transfer application is being considered, the subscriber should write a new application to cancel the transfer.

11. How many times can I change telecom operator?

The number of transitions is not legally limited.

12. Are there any restrictions on the number of transitions per period?

In the current version of the law, the frequency of transitions is not limited.

13. Can the donor operator refuse to port a number? For what reasons?

The operator may refuse to port a number if there is debt under the client’s current contracts.

Financial issues / Mutual settlements

14. Is it possible to change the operator if there is a debt on the account?

15. Is it possible to change the operator if there is a debt on other numbers/contracts registered with the subscriber?

No, the Subscriber must pay off all debts to the operator in order to be able to transfer the number.

16. If at the time of porting the number its balance is positive, will it be transferred? cash to a new account?

The current version of the Law “On Communications” does not provide for this possibility.

17. After switching from one operator to another, how will the process of crediting funds through payment terminals proceed?

According to the current affiliation of the number. The fact of a change in number ownership is clearly recorded and stored in the BDPN.

18. Will debts with the old operator accumulate or be cancelled?

The subscriber will not be able to change the operator while maintaining the number if he has a debt.

19. Do the subscriber still have obligations to the previous operator (penalties, penalties for maintaining the number, etc.)?

Technical issues

20. Is it possible to determine which operator is calling from after changing the number?

It is legally obligatory to inform the calling subscriber when calling the number of the “transferred” subscriber. For example, a voice auto-informer.

21. Will it be possible for a CDMA operator (Skylink) to switch to GSM?

22. Will it be active? subscriber number, if an application for transfer to another operator’s network has already been submitted?

During the period of consideration of the application, the number remains active on the old SIM card.