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Do MVNOs own numbers or the actual carriers?

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My number was originally on Giffgaff but the Ofcom spreadsheet says my number is owned by Telefonica, am I missing something?
Giffgaff numbers are issued by Teléfonica, a friend's Giffgaff number (07521) comes up as Teléfonica.

PAC codes don't necessarily mean that the operator owns your number.
 
I know but Koda put : Giffgaff GGF
Yes. If you are with Giffgaff and you request a PAC you'll get a PAC that begins with the letters GGF. I will get on of these even if I port my T-Mobile/EE Phone number into Giffgaff and port it out.

The PAC is for the network that you're leaving. Not who owns your number.

You're confusing who owns the number ranges with who issues what PACs now I think. Because yes, Giffgaff is owned by O2 and they issue O2 phone number rather than having their own allocation. Giffgaff's network is basically just built on top of O2 Pay as you go, if I am not mistaken.
 
Exactly the point I made in #32, the PAC code is an authority code that says the network that currently provides service for your number agrees to a port out of your number in the next 30 days. Nothing to do with which network issued the number originally.
 
But I wonder why - in the case of Orange, One2One, T-Mobile and EE that a PAC needs to reference if the customer is an Original Orange/One2One/T-Mobile or an EE customer or range holder. Essentially doesn't matter where the number came from, the gaining provider needs to worry about that.

The PAC is just an authority from the mobile network currently contracted to provide service on a number to be ported that they are happy to consent to the port taking place in the next 30days.

So why do some networks issue PACs with different prefixes?
I guess it's so the fact the PAC has been used can be routed to the correct backend billing system, to ensure billing is stopped and any termination fees get collected.
 
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I would only ever get a number from the big networks then port it into an mvno, that way it's not subject to the same risk as being rendered unusable if an mvno originated number has problems and the provider closes.

Right, except now the problem is if the original source network isn't the same one used by the MVNO (and sometimes even if it is) you've got extra points of failure, as say a native Three number used on a MVNO using Vodafone will still depend on 3 as well...
 
From my understanding once a port is successful the forwarding of calls/SMS just works until the number is ported elsewhere. Has anyone had any experience of a successful port going wrong? (Other than cases like Vectone where the MVNO just shut up shop)

Therefore I don't think that an original "Three" number would really have significant additional ongoing operational risk ported to say Lebara (Voda MVNO) compared to one ported to Smarty (Three MVNO)
 
Right, except now the problem is if the original source network isn't the same one used by the MVNO (and sometimes even if it is) you've got extra points of failure, as say a native Three number used on a MVNO using Vodafone will still depend on 3 as well...
That's true, nothing is foolproof. My view on this is there's been no complete collapse of service causing this problem on the main networks, whereas there is a precedent on the MVNOs where exactly this problem caused numbers to fail when the operator collapsed.
 
Looked through some old emails.

BTC - BT Mobile (presumably BT Consumer)
VUK - Voxi, though since that is just rebadged Vodafone I suspect the meaning is obvious
LCS - Smarty (???)

I remember getting an ONE PAC from EE at some time in the past and that would not have been a former 121/T-Mobile number, though presumably as much of the surviving EE infrastructure came from T-Mobile then maybe that's where it comes from.

BTC is BT Cellnet ?
 
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BT Cellnet was looooong before porting was a thing, and Cellnet prefixes like 0802 were a thing. Most BT staff and engineers had numbers in that range. Some of the old timers still do (now 07802).

It was very much O2 by the time number porting started to become a thing.
 
That's true, nothing is foolproof. My view on this is there's been no complete collapse of service causing this problem on the main networks, whereas there is a precedent on the MVNOs where exactly this problem caused numbers to fail when the operator collapsed.
Incorrect. There are occasions where native networks have issues impacting porting numbers. It happens. It's a real issue, not a theoretical one.
 
Incorrect. There are occasions where native networks have issues impacting porting numbers. It happens. It's a real issue, not a theoretical one.
I think I remember an issue not too long ago impacting any EE issued numbers even if ported away... possibly only incoming calls?
 
Incorrect. There are occasions where native networks have issues impacting porting numbers. It happens. It's a real issue, not a theoretical one.
I'm not sure I described the situation well, what I was getting at is to my knowledge in the UK there is no major network that has collapsed completely, meaning a number port is impossible. I'm not suggesting there are never problems as there inevitably will be, but no UK network has closed overnight causing numbers to be lost so that's theoretical and I would hope there's lots of contingency if a major network collapses.

On the other hand there is a precedent for an MVNO closing and numbers being lost, which is why I stand by my original point it's safer to get a number from a major MNO then port it to an MVNO.
 
On the other hand there is a precedent for an MVNO closing and numbers being lost, which is why I stand by my original point it's safer to get a number from a major MNO then port it to an MVNO.
Only if the MVNO issues their own phone numbers. Most don’t and just provide numbers supplied by the host network anyways.
 
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Just a few I can think of off the top of my head:

EE ONE and EVR (Thanks Bubbles for adding to this)
1P Mobile TLP
CMLink CMI and TSL (Depending on SIM? Unsure if both are used now?)
Ecotalk TSL
Lycamobile LYC
NOW Mobile NOW
Plusnet TSL
Popit TSL? (Not 100% sure my memory serves correctly)
Spusu SPU
TalkHome THM
Utility Warehouse TLP

O2 TEL
Giffgaff GGF
Tesco TSC

Three HTG
Smarty LCS

I THINK all of the above ones are correct but if someone notices a mistake please correct me. There's probably others I know of that will come to me later and I will come back and add to it if/when I remember.
Sky is simply just SKY
iD Mobile - VTM

FYI I went from Sky to iD Mobile best decision I’ve ever made. After using Sky’s horrible service from year 7 in May 2019 till end of first year of college June 2023. Now am enjoying having reliable calls and data.
 
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To be pedantically technical, telephone numbers are owned by HMG and managed by OFCOM. They are allocated to service providers on a use basis and can be recalled or changed by OFCOM if they deem it necessary (as has happened in the past).

Just like private registration plates for cars, the end user never owns it.
 
Z
Just a few I can think of off the top of my head:

EE ONE and EVR (Thanks Bubbles for adding to this)
1P Mobile TLP
CMLink CMI and TSL (Depending on SIM? Unsure if both are used now?)
Ecotalk TSL
Lycamobile LYC
NOW Mobile NOW
Plusnet TSL
Popit TSL? (Not 100% sure my memory serves correctly)
Spusu SPU
TalkHome THM
Utility Warehouse TLP

O2 TEL
Giffgaff GGF
Tesco TSC

Three HTG
Smarty LCS

I THINK all of the above ones are correct but if someone notices a mistake please correct me. There's probably others I know of that will come to me later and I will come back and add to it if/when I remember.
One more for you;

Stour Marine (07537 1) SML
 
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