Are El Salvador phone numbers portable between carriers?
Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 7:04 am
Yes, phone numbers in El Salvador are portable between carriers for both mobile and fixed lines. This means that a subscriber can switch their telecommunications service provider (e.g., from Tigo to Claro) and keep their existing phone number.
Here's a detailed breakdown of number portability in El Salvador:
The Implementation of Number Portability
El Salvador officially implemented mobile number portability (MNP) in August 2015. The regulatory body overseeing this is the Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (SIGET). The introduction of number portability was a significant step towards fostering el-salvador phone number list greater competition among telecommunication providers and empowering consumers with more choice and flexibility. Before MNP, switching carriers meant also changing your phone number, which was a major deterrent for many users due as it required updating all contacts, personal information, and potentially impacting business operations.
How Number Portability Works
When a subscriber decides to port their number to a new carrier in El Salvador, the process generally involves the following steps:
Initiating the Request: The subscriber contacts the new carrier they wish to switch to and initiates a porting request. They typically need to provide identification (such as a DUI or passport for individuals, or company registration documents and power of attorney for businesses), a copy of their latest invoice from the current carrier, and proof of payment.
Verification and Processing: The new carrier, in coordination with the central number portability database administrator (in El Salvador, this has been managed by entities like Mediafon Datapro and imCard S.A. de C.V.), verifies the subscriber's eligibility and processes the request. This verification period is designed to ensure the number is active, the subscriber is authorized to port it, and there are no outstanding debts or contractual limitations with the previous carrier.
Technical Transition: Once approved, the technical transfer of the number typically occurs within a specified timeframe. For mobile numbers, this process can be relatively quick, sometimes taking up to 8 hours. For fixed lines, it might take up to 3 days. The goal is to minimize service interruption during the switch.
Service Activation: After the technical transition, the number becomes active with the new carrier, and the subscriber can begin using their services while retaining their familiar phone number.
Here's a detailed breakdown of number portability in El Salvador:
The Implementation of Number Portability
El Salvador officially implemented mobile number portability (MNP) in August 2015. The regulatory body overseeing this is the Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (SIGET). The introduction of number portability was a significant step towards fostering el-salvador phone number list greater competition among telecommunication providers and empowering consumers with more choice and flexibility. Before MNP, switching carriers meant also changing your phone number, which was a major deterrent for many users due as it required updating all contacts, personal information, and potentially impacting business operations.
How Number Portability Works
When a subscriber decides to port their number to a new carrier in El Salvador, the process generally involves the following steps:
Initiating the Request: The subscriber contacts the new carrier they wish to switch to and initiates a porting request. They typically need to provide identification (such as a DUI or passport for individuals, or company registration documents and power of attorney for businesses), a copy of their latest invoice from the current carrier, and proof of payment.
Verification and Processing: The new carrier, in coordination with the central number portability database administrator (in El Salvador, this has been managed by entities like Mediafon Datapro and imCard S.A. de C.V.), verifies the subscriber's eligibility and processes the request. This verification period is designed to ensure the number is active, the subscriber is authorized to port it, and there are no outstanding debts or contractual limitations with the previous carrier.
Technical Transition: Once approved, the technical transfer of the number typically occurs within a specified timeframe. For mobile numbers, this process can be relatively quick, sometimes taking up to 8 hours. For fixed lines, it might take up to 3 days. The goal is to minimize service interruption during the switch.
Service Activation: After the technical transition, the number becomes active with the new carrier, and the subscriber can begin using their services while retaining their familiar phone number.