Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows mobile phone users to switch between service providers while keeping their existing phone number. This means subscribers can move to a new telecom operator without changing their number, improving consumer choice and driving competition among operators.

Over 115 countries worldwide have implemented Mobile Number Portability. Our interactive map and table above provide a detailed breakdown of each country, the year MNP was launched, and the regulator responsible for its implementation.

For businesses that rely on SMS communication, MNP means that a subscriber's phone number no longer indicates which mobile operator they are on. A number that was originally assigned to Operator A may have been ported to Operator B. Without accounting for this, businesses risk misrouting messages, failed deliveries, and communication gaps with customers. HLR (Home Location Register) lookups are essential in MNP-active countries to determine the subscriber's current network before sending.

Additionally, in many countries each operator charges a different rate — or applies different On-Net / Off-Net pricing when you use a single provider. Without knowing the subscriber's actual network, businesses may unknowingly pay premium Off-Net rates on traffic that appears to be On-Net based on the number prefix. This creates a cost exposure, especially when an aggregator with MNP lookup capabilities routes only the expensive-to-terminate traffic your way.

When a number is ported to a different operator, SMS messages routed based on the original MSISDN prefix may be delivered to the wrong network — resulting in failed or delayed delivery. To ensure accurate SMS routing in countries with active MNP, senders should perform HLR lookups to identify the subscriber's current operator and route messages accordingly.

In many countries, Sender ID registration requirements vary by operator — some operators enforce mandatory registration while others do not. When MNP is active in such a country, you cannot rely on the MSISDN prefix to determine which operator the subscriber belongs to. A number that appears to belong to a non-enforcing operator may have been ported to an operator that requires Sender ID registration. Sending without a registered Sender ID to that subscriber will result in the message being blocked or filtered. This makes HLR lookup critical: you need to know the subscriber's actual current network — not just the prefix — to ensure your Sender ID is properly registered with the right operator and your message gets delivered. For country-specific Sender ID registration requirements, visit SenderID.info.

We review and update our MNP database periodically as new countries implement MNP or regulatory changes occur. The current dataset was last verified in March 2026. If you notice outdated or missing information, please let us know on the community board.