Jordan to Allow Mobile Number Portability by 2027

Alanbatnews -

Jordan is expected to enable mobile number portability by April 2027, allowing subscribers to switch between mobile operators while keeping their existing phone number.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) stated it is working to implement the mobile number portability project within the approved regulatory and time framework outlined in the relevant instructions issued in October 2025.

According to the TRC, the service is expected to launch in the Jordanian market by April 2027, contingent upon the completion of technical, operational, and commercial requirements by all parties involved, including operators and solution providers.

Mobile number portability will enable subscribers to move between mobile operators within the Kingdom without changing their phone number, subject to specific controls and procedures ensuring service continuity, protection of subscriber rights, and quality of implementation.

As of the third quarter of 2025, Jordan has 8,475,725 mobile subscriptions, with prepaid subscriptions accounting for 65% of the total and postpaid subscriptions making up the remaining 35%, according to the TRC's sector indicators report.

The mobile subscriptions are distributed among three operators in the local market.

The service allows mobile phone subscribers to retain their mobile phone numbers when moving from one operator to another.

The Mobile Number Portability Service Center is defined as the center licensed by the TRC and contracted with mobile network operators to operate and manage the mobile number portability service.

The "receiving operator" is defined as the operator that will activate the mobile phone number on its network after the transfer process is completed, while the "donor operator" is the operator that activates the mobile phone number on its network when the transfer request is submitted.

Subscribers wishing to transfer a mobile phone number must submit a transfer request at one of the receiving operator's branches or approved points of sale, or through any other means available and approved by the TRC.

The receiving operator initiates the mobile phone number transfer process and manages the number transfer process on behalf of the subscriber.

The subscriber confirms the transfer process by sending a free SMS to the Mobile Number Portability Service Center after submitting the transfer request.

The number transfer process for the subscriber must be completed within a maximum period of one working day from the date of submitting the transfer request, and in accordance with the controls specified in the document.

Mobile network operators are obligated to directly contract with the Mobile Number Portability Service Center to operate and manage this service and automate the number transfer process, starting from submitting the transfer request, so that the operators' systems and networks are integrated with the Number Transfer Service Center, including verification, deactivation, and activation operations.

Operators are also obligated to comply with the procedures for the number transfer process stipulated in the instructions and not to reject any request to transfer a number or numbers except in the cases specified in the document.

They are required to issue and publish explanatory guidelines for subscribers showing the transfer procedures to ensure a smooth transition, and to retain all data and information related to number transfer operations for a period of not less than 12 months and submit them to the TRC upon request.

The Mobile Number Portability service will be operated and managed through a Number Transfer Service Center.

The instructions stipulate that the receiving operator is obligated to return the transferred number to the donor operator, in addition to bearing all associated costs, if it is proven that the transfer of the mobile phone number was carried out in violation of what is stipulated in these instructions.

The mobile number portability service is subject to the provisions contained in the document, which defines the procedures, conditions, and functions associated with the transfer process, in addition to the responsibilities of the operators concerned, to ensure an effective transfer experience that focuses on subscriber service.