Port Your Business Phone Number to a Cloud Phone System
Keep the number your customers already know, with no gap in calls.
Indigo Unified Communications moves (ports) your existing business phone numbers to a new cloud phone system on 8x8, 3CX or Microsoft Teams Phone. You keep your 0141, 0131 or other numbers, and customers keep calling the same number. We install and test your new phones alongside the old ones first, then arrange the port. Ports are scheduled by Openreach and happen during the working day, 9am to 5pm. We manage the paperwork and support you from Glasgow.
What is number porting?
Number porting moves a phone number from one provider to another, so it rings on your new system instead of your old one. The number itself doesn't change. It's how businesses keep their main number, direct dial numbers and freephone numbers when they change phone system.
You have a right to it. Ofcom's General Conditions say number porting must be offered on reasonable terms, that you must not be charged directly for porting, and that if a port fails, the number and your service must be put back on until the port is completed. These protections apply to all business customers, not just small ones. Glossary: number porting →
How long does number porting take?
It depends on the type of line. As a guide, industry lead times are:
| Type of number | Typical lead time |
|---|---|
| Single line (one number) | About 4–7 working days |
| Multi-line, no direct dial range | About 7–10 working days |
| Larger multi-line with direct dial (DDI) ranges | About 10–13 working days |
| Complex DDI ranges | About 22–25 working days |
These are minimums from UK wholesale providers, not guarantees. A rejected request restarts the clock, so correct details matter most. On the day, Openreach carries out the port during the working day, between 9am and 5pm, as it does for every provider.
How we port your number without downtime
- Collect the details. We need the account holder's name, the installation address and postcode exactly as the current provider holds them, and a recent bill.
- Check every line. We list which numbers you're keeping and what else runs on those lines, such as broadband, alarms, lift phones, card machines or a fax.
- Install the new system first. Your new phones go in during working hours and run alongside the old ones, fully tested.
- Submit the port with a signed letter of authority, and agree the date with you.
- Go live. On the day, calls simply start arriving on the new phones. There's no switch-off gap, because the new system is already running.
Why do number ports get rejected?
Most rejections are paperwork:
- The address or postcode doesn't match what the current provider has on record.
- The account holder is wrong, for example an old company name or a director who has left.
- The line type is wrong, such as a single-line request for a number that's part of a multi-line group.
- Something else is on the line, such as a monitored alarm service, that has to be moved or cancelled first.
We check these before we submit.
What happens to your old line and broadband?
When a number moves off a traditional phone line, the old line is usually ceased, and anything that relies on it stops too. That can include broadband delivered on the same line, alarm signalling or a lift emergency phone. Before we port, we make sure each of these has a new home, such as SoGEA (broadband that doesn't need a phone line) or full fibre broadband. Business connectivity →
This matters more than ever because the UK's analogue phone network closes on 31 January 2027. Porting your numbers to a cloud phone system is one of the steps, and the others need to happen first. Take the 2-minute switch-off check →
Porting to 8x8, 3CX and Teams Phone
- 8x8 offers number porting as self-service or managed. We manage it for you.
- 3CX connects to the phone network through a SIP trunk (a phone line delivered over the internet). We use Gamma SIP trunks, so your numbers port to Gamma and ring on your 3CX system.
- Microsoft Teams Phone numbers can come from a Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect with 8x8, or Direct Routing via 8x8 or 3CX. Your numbers port to the route you choose and ring in Teams.
Number porting is included in our set-up price, with no separate porting fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my business phone number if I change provider?
Yes. In almost all cases you can move (port) your existing numbers to a new phone system, including 0141, 0131 and other geographic numbers. Ofcom's rules require providers to offer porting on reasonable terms and say you must not be charged directly for it. Indigo installs your new phones first, then arranges the port. Number porting is included in our set-up price, with no separate porting fee.
How long does it take to port a business phone number in the UK?
Industry lead times start at about 4–7 working days for a single line and about 7–10 working days for a small multi-line group. Larger groups with direct dial ranges take longer, up to about five weeks for complex ranges. Correct paperwork is the biggest factor, because a rejected request starts the process again.
Will we lose calls on the day of the port?
With Indigo, you shouldn't. We install and test your new cloud phones alongside your old system before the port. Openreach carries out the port during the working day, between 9am and 5pm, and calls start arriving on the new phones. If a port fails, Ofcom's rules say your number and service must be put back on until it's completed.
Should I cancel my old phone line before porting?
No. Keep your current line and contract active until the port has completed. The port itself moves the number, and cancelling first can leave you without a line to port from and put the number at risk. Check your contract end date and notice period, and tell us about any other services on the line.
What is a letter of authority for number porting?
A letter of authority (LOA) is a signed form in which the account holder confirms they want their numbers moved to a new provider. It lists the numbers, the account holder and the installation address. Those details must match the current provider's records exactly, or the port is likely to be rejected.
Book a free phone system review
We'll list every number and line you have, check what else runs on them, and plan your port around your new system. You'll get a written recommendation within 2 working days.