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Yes. Most Australian businesses can keep their existing local, mobile, 13, 1300 or 1800 number when moving to a VoIP or cloud phone system. The process is called number porting, and it transfers the number from your current telco to your new provider.
Number porting changes where calls are delivered. It does not change the number printed on your website, vehicles, invoices, email signatures or marketing.
If you are comparing systems, start with [cloud VoIP for business]( /phone-systems/cloud-voip/). This guide focuses only on the porting process, requirements, timing and common problems.
Can I keep my number with a cloud phone system?
In most cases, yes. The number must still be active, the new provider must accept that type of number, and the porting details must match your current telco’s records.
The ACMA’s guidance on keeping or porting a phone number confirms that Australian customers can usually port local numbers beginning with 02, 03, 07 and 08. Mobile numbers beginning with 04, as well as 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers, may also be portable.
For a business, the main checks are:
A new provider does not have to accept every port request. Confirm eligibility before signing a new contract or cancelling your current service.
How do I transfer my landline number to VoIP?
Your new VoIP provider normally manages the port with your existing telco. You authorise the transfer, provide account details, set up the new system, then wait for the agreed cutover.
The usual process looks like this:
Give the new provider your business number and current telco details.
A disconnected number generally cannot be ported. The ACMA explains that only active numbers can be ported, including suspended numbers that have not been disconnected.
This helps confirm the exact account holder, service address, account number and number range.
This gives the new provider permission to request the number from your current telco.
Your provider can usually build users, ring groups, auto attendants, voicemail and call routing before the number moves.
Choose a quiet period, but do not assume the exact time can always be guaranteed.
Check incoming calls, outgoing calls, caller ID, voicemail, transfers and any advertised call menu.
Porting the number and ending the wider account are separate steps.
The key rule is simple: do not cancel the old landline before the port is complete.
What information do I need to port a business number?
You will usually need the current account information exactly as it appears on your telco’s records. Small differences in the business name, address or account number can cause a rejection or delay.
Prepare:
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number or numbers to port | Identifies the services being transferred |
| Current telco name | Identifies the losing provider |
| Account holder or business name | Confirms the rights-of-use holder |
| Service address | Must match the current telco’s records |
| Billing or account number | Helps the telcos locate the service |
| Recent invoice | Supports the porting application |
| Number range details | Important when several numbers are linked |
| Authorised contact | Confirms who can approve the transfer |
| Attached services | Identifies hunt groups, alarms, fax or internet dependencies |
A current bill is often the safest source for these details. Do not copy the address from a newer office lease or website if the telco still has an older service address on file.
This is one of the less obvious reasons porting requests fail. The number may be eligible, but the submitted information does not match the donor carrier’s records.
How long does VoIP number porting take in Australia?
A simple local number port commonly takes several business days to a few weeks. A port involving multiple numbers or attached services can take longer.
The ACMA’s published local number portability timeframes generally require 80% of single-number ports to be completed within eight business days, 90% within 10 business days and 98% within 15 business days. The ACMA also notes that more complex ports can take up to 30 days, with limited exceptions. (ACMA, 2025)
| Porting situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| One straightforward local number | Often the simplest port type |
| Several local numbers | More checks and coordination may be required |
| Number range or hunt group | May require review of linked services |
| 13, 1300 or 1800 number | Uses inbound number portability processes |
| Number bundled with internet | Cancelling the bundle early may affect the number |
| Number with alarm, fax or other service | Extra testing and planning may be needed |
| Disconnected number | Usually cannot be ported |
Nexgen can confirm a more useful timeframe after checking your number, current carrier and service setup. Avoid planning the change around a fixed date until the port has been accepted and a cutover window has been confirmed.
Will my phone service stop during the port?
A well-planned port is designed to keep the number in service during the change, but no provider should describe every port as universally risk-free. The result depends on the number, carrier records, linked services, configuration and whether the old service stays active.
Before the cutover, the new cloud phone system can be configured and tested using a temporary number. This reduces the amount of work happening on the porting day.
Your business should also have a short cutover plan:
The ACMA’s rules for telcos state that a gaining telco must tell customers not to disconnect the service because only an active service can be ported. Your current telco may still issue a final bill, early termination charge or other contract-related charge after the port. (ACMA, 2025)
Can I get rid of my landline but keep the number?
Yes, if the number is successfully ported to a VoIP service. After the port, calls can be delivered through compatible desk phones, computers, mobile apps or other approved endpoints instead of the old physical line.
The important distinction is between porting the number and replacing the old phone system. Porting preserves the public number. Your new cloud phone system controls where calls ring and what happens when nobody answers.
Do not cancel the existing landline first. Once a number is disconnected, you may lose the right to use it; the ACMA warns that disconnected numbers cannot normally be ported.
If you are also deciding whether to replace the underlying copper, NBN or fixed-line service, see our related guide: business landline alternatives in Australia.
What can delay or reject a business number port?
The most common problems are incorrect account details, a disconnected service, unsupported number types and complex services attached to the number.
A port may need extra work when the number is part of:
Your existing telco generally cannot refuse or delay a valid port simply because you owe money, according to ACMA’s porting rules for losing telcos. However, the debt, contract and early termination obligations do not automatically disappear.
If the business has changed hands, first confirm who is recorded as the rights-of-use holder. Ownership transfers and porting are related but separate processes.
Should I port every number in a business phone system?
Not always. The right approach depends on which numbers customers use and how the existing number range is structured.
List every number before submitting the request. Mark each number as a main line, direct dial, fax, sales number, support line, 13 number, 1300 number or 1800 number.
If your numbers are linked as a range, ask the new provider whether individual numbers can be ported. The ACMA confirms that a number from a group can be ported individually, but the practical result can depend on the service and carrier arrangement.
For help choosing a suitable setup, see [small business phone systems]( /phone-systems/small-business/). If you are not sure which provider or system is suitable, use our related guide to choosing the best VoIP provider in Australia.
What should I test after my number ports to VoIP?
Test the number from outside your office before treating the migration as complete. A call from a mobile network is a useful first check because it confirms the public number is reaching the new system.
Run this checklist:
Only cancel the old service after the new provider confirms the port and your business has completed these tests.
How can Nexgen help with VoIP number porting for business in Australia?
Nexgen can coordinate the port, collect the required details and configure the cloud phone system around your existing number. The exact timing and process depend on your current carrier, number type and attached services.
You can keep your number while changing how your team answers calls. Nexgen can also help plan the cutover so your staff know what is changing and what to test.
If you are ready to move, [talk to Nexgen about a business phone system]( /phone-systems/small-business/). Keep your number, switch the system, and let Nexgen manage the porting process with a realistic cutover plan.
Frequently asked questions about VoIP number porting
Can I port a Telstra or Optus landline number to VoIP?
Usually, yes, provided the number is active and the new provider supports it. Do not cancel the existing service until the port has completed.
Can I port a 1300 or 1800 business number to a cloud phone system?
Often, yes. These numbers use inbound number portability processes, so confirm eligibility, routing and any special service features with the new provider before signing up.
Can I port a number if I still owe my old telco money?
The old telco generally cannot refuse or delay a valid port just because you owe money. You may still need to pay the final bill or an early termination charge under your contract.
What happens if my number is disconnected before porting?
A disconnected number usually cannot be ported because it is no longer active. Contact the telco immediately, as disconnected numbers may be quarantined and recovery is not guaranteed.
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