Porting a number

[cdelaney]

Has anyone had the issue of not being able to port a number because its not compatible with the public mobile network and they don't have a number range in that area?  This is the response I recieved from a moderator and its left me feeling a bit hung out to dry.  I'll begrudgingly accept the fact that I'm now $50 out of pocket for a service I can't use but I wonder if someone could shed some light on why this issue would even exist.  This is a fully portable number that I've ported in the past.  Is the issue with Public Mobile or is it with my current provider Virgin Mobile.  The number was initially a Bell landline number which I had ported to a Virgin Mobile account.  

Thanks

[cdelaney]

I may stand to be corrected but to the best of my knowledge bell and telus do have a tower sharing arrangement in newfoundland as well and the coverage for both is identical. 

Additionally I do know that some exchanges in the 709 area code have no trouble being ported to telus or any other provider.  The 597 exchange is a prime example of this.  Years ago before number portability was even an option our local land line exchange was 598 and the local cell phone exchange was 597.  Both cover the same area and 597 has no issue at all being ported.

It seems most of the problem comes from porting numbers that were once land lines. Bell has had a strangle hold on newfoundland for years and has done everything in is power to keep competition out or at least limit what they can do.  It wouldn't suprise me if this is the problem here as well. 

[popping]

Did a search on this forum and found lot of threads about the number with area code 709 cannot be ported.

I don't understand why Telus cannot and will not service the 709 area code since Telus has tower sharing with Bell unless the sharing agreement excludes the towers in Newfoundland.

[hycm53]

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@cdelaney wrote:

Yes, this is exactly what happened. I sent a message to a moderator and the response from them was that "we don't have a number range in that area, and it is not compatible with our network".  I don't have high hopes that I'll be able to get this done and it's a shame really.  The rates with public mobile are really good and I like the idea of the community helping each other.  I just can't lose the number I've had for the last 30+ years. To much to update. I think I'd be happy now if I could just understand what the problem is and what will be done in the future so other people don't run into the same problem I'm experiencing.

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Did you check PM coverage map for your location? There are some threads about Newfoundland, you may get some ideas.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/coverage

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Getting-Started/Service-in-Newfoundland/td-p/39756

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Plans-Add-Ons/Newfoundland-number-can-t-call-a-Newfou...

[cdelaney]

Yes, this is exactly what happened. I sent a message to a moderator and the response from them was that "we don't have a number range in that area, and it is not compatible with our network".  I don't have high hopes that I'll be able to get this done and it's a shame really.  The rates with public mobile are really good and I like the idea of the community helping each other.  I just can't lose the number I've had for the last 30+ years. To much to update. I think I'd be happy now if I could just understand what the problem is and what will be done in the future so other people don't run into the same problem I'm experiencing.

[will13am]

So when this number is entered in the number transfer page, the system says the number is not eligible?  If the Public Mobile system is not accepting a valid, active Canadian number for transfer, the moderator team should refer this matter to the back office to investigate.  

[cdelaney]

Yes this is an active number in Newfoundland with the area code 709

[will13am]

I have never seen this limitation mentioned myself.  What area code is involved here?  I assume this number is in an active account and is a valid Canadian number.