If you have a 1300 number with a provider you're unhappy with, here is the good news: that number is yours. Australian telecommunications regulation gives your business the Right of Use over your 1300 number, which means your current provider cannot hold it hostage, inflate exit barriers, or block you from leaving. Porting your number to a new provider is a routine, regulated process. It takes less than a week and causes zero downtime for your callers.
This guide explains exactly how 1300 number porting works in Australia, what the process looks like step by step, and what you need to provide to get it done.
What Does "Porting" a 1300 Number Actually Mean?
Porting is the process of moving your 1300 number from one telecommunications provider's network to another while keeping the number completely identical. Your customers and callers dial the same number they always have. Nothing changes for them. Behind the scenes, the number simply routes through a different provider's infrastructure once the port is complete.
This is the same principle that applies when you port a mobile number between carriers — the number stays the same, and the moment the transfer completes, calls route through the new network automatically.
Porting is entirely distinct from getting a new 1300 number. You are not replacing your number. You are moving it.
Who Owns Your 1300 Number?
This is a question worth understanding properly before you start the porting process.
The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) is the registered owner of all 1300 numbers in Australia. ACMA manages the national numbering plan and allocates number ranges to carriers.
As a business, you hold what is called a Right of Use (ROU) — sometimes referred to as an End-User Right of Use (EROU). This is the legal entitlement granted by ACMA that allows you to use the number. When you sign up with a provider, that ROU is associated with your account and managed through their network.
Here is the critical point: the ROU belongs to you, not your provider. When you port to a new provider, the ROU moves with you. Your current provider cannot revoke your ROU as a mechanism to block a port. They do not own the number. They are simply the entity currently managing it on your behalf.
This is why porting is a right, not a privilege.
The 1300 Number Porting Process: Step by Step
The porting process in Australia is governed by the ACIF (Australian Communications Industry Forum) codes, which set out regulated timeframes and obligations for all parties involved.
Step 1: Choose Your New Provider and Sign Up
Before a port can be initiated, you need an active account with your new provider. In this case, that means signing up for a Pickle plan that includes your 1300 number. You can review Pickle's 1300 number plans at thinkpickle.com.au/business-phone-numbers/1300-numbers.
You do not need to cancel your service with your current provider at this stage. Keep it active — this is important and covered in more detail below.
Step 2: Provide Pickle With Your Porting Details
Once your Pickle account is set up, you supply the following information:
- Your 1300 number
- The name of your current provider
- Your account number with the current provider, or your ABN for verification
That is all that is required from you. Pickle's team handles the rest.
Step 3: Pickle Lodges the Port Request
The gaining provider — the new provider, Pickle — initiates the port request on your behalf. You do not need to separately contact your current provider to authorise the port or notify them you are leaving before the process begins. The port request itself is the formal notification.
Step 4: The Current Provider Processes the Request
Under ACIF regulations, your current provider has a set timeframe in which to process the request. In practice, this typically takes 5–7 business days from when the port request is lodged.
During this period, your 1300 number remains fully active on your current provider's network. Callers reach you exactly as they normally would. There is no gap in service.
Step 5: The Number Switches to Pickle's Network
At the agreed port date and time, the number cuts over to Pickle's network. This happens at a specific scheduled moment, not gradually. One minute the number is routing through your old provider's infrastructure; the next it is live on Pickle's. Callers experience no interruption — there is no downtime, no dead period, and no need to update any contact details.
Step 6: Configure Your Routing Rules in Pickle's Dashboard
Once the port completes, your 1300 number is live in your Pickle account. From Pickle's dashboard, you configure how calls are routed — which numbers they ring through to, time-based routing rules, overflow destinations, hold music, IVR settings, and anything else relevant to how your business handles inbound calls.
What Can Delay a 1300 Number Port?
The 5–7 business day timeframe assumes a clean submission. The most common causes of delays are avoidable with a little preparation.
Incorrect account details. If the number, ABN, or account number you provide does not exactly match what your current provider has on file, the port request will be queried and sent back for correction. Check your current provider's invoices or account portal to confirm the precise details before you submit.
The number is part of a bundle or linked to other services. Some providers package 1300 numbers alongside other services on a single account. If your number is bundled, it may need to be separated or decoupled from those other services before the port can proceed. Your current provider should facilitate this, though it can add time.
The current provider disputes the port request. This is rare. Providers can raise a query if the details submitted do not match their records, which is a legitimate step. What they cannot do is simply refuse a valid port request because they do not want to lose your business. Regulated timeframes still apply regardless.
The number is cancelled before the port completes. This is the most serious risk. If your current service is cancelled — whether by you or your provider — before the port is finalised, the number may be released back into the numbering pool and lost. Once a number is cancelled, it cannot be ported. Keep your current service active until Pickle confirms the port is complete.
Can Your Current Provider Block the Port?
No. Under ACMA and ACIF regulations, a provider cannot refuse a valid port request. They cannot simply decline because they want to retain your business, because you are in a contract, or for any other commercial reason.
A provider can query a port if the submitted details do not match their records — this is a regulatory safeguard, not a veto. If there is a genuine mismatch, you correct the details and resubmit.
If a current provider is unresponsive, drags out the process beyond regulated timeframes, or otherwise attempts to obstruct a legitimate port, Pickle can escalate through industry channels on your behalf. It is one of the reasons it helps to have your gaining provider manage the process rather than trying to navigate it directly.
What Happens to Your Contract With Your Current Provider?
This is an important distinction that catches some business owners off guard.
Porting your number is a technical and regulatory process. It is separate from your contractual relationship with your current provider. Completing a port does not automatically cancel your contract with them, and it does not waive any obligations you have under that contract.
Before initiating the port, review your current contract for:
- Notice periods — many providers require 30 days written notice to cancel a service
- Minimum term obligations — if you are in a fixed-term contract, early exit fees may apply
- Exit fees — some contracts include specific termination charges
You may choose to initiate the port immediately regardless of these factors — the port itself will proceed — but understanding your contractual obligations avoids unexpected charges from your old provider after you have moved. The two things run in parallel: the technical port, and the commercial wind-down of your previous account.
For more on switching providers, see How to Switch Your 1300 Number Provider in Australia.
Porting Your 1300 Number to Pickle
Pickle accepts port-ins for existing 1300 numbers. Once ported, your number sits in your Pickle account alongside any other numbers you manage with us. All routing configuration is handled through Pickle's dashboard — no technical knowledge required to set up call forwarding, time-based rules, or IVR menus.
Pickle's team manages the porting process on your behalf from start to finish. You provide the number, your current provider's name, and your account number or ABN. Pickle lodges the request, liaises with your current provider as needed, and notifies you when the port is complete and your number is live.
If you are weighing up the cost of 1300 numbers more broadly, the Pickle guide to 1300 number costs in Australia breaks down what you should expect to pay and how different providers structure their pricing.
You may also want to read What Happens to Your 1300 Number When You Cancel a Service before making any changes to your current account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will there be any downtime when I port my 1300 number?
A: No. Your 1300 number remains active on your current provider's network throughout the porting process. Calls continue to route as normal right up until the moment the port completes, at which point they switch instantly to Pickle's network. Callers experience no interruption, no missed calls, and no need to be notified of any change.
Q: How long does porting a 1300 number take?
A: The standard timeframe under ACIF regulations is 5–7 business days from when the port request is lodged. This assumes the details you provide are accurate and the port request is not queried. If a query is raised due to a detail mismatch, resolving it and resubmitting will add time.
Q: What if I don't know my current provider's account number?
A: Check your most recent invoice — your account number is typically printed on billing documents. You can also log in to your current provider's online portal, or contact their support team to confirm the account number associated with your 1300 number. In some cases, an ABN can be used for verification in lieu of an account number, though requirements vary by provider.
Q: Can I port a 1300 number that I've already cancelled?
A: No. A cancelled number cannot be ported. Once a number is released back into the numbering pool, the ROU associated with it is extinguished. If you have already cancelled your service and the number has been deallocated, it is no longer yours to port — it may have already been reallocated to another business. This is why it is critical to keep your current service active until Pickle confirms the port has completed successfully.
Q: Do I need to tell my current provider I'm leaving before initiating a port?
A: No. You do not need to contact your current provider before the process begins. The port request that Pickle lodges on your behalf serves as the formal notification to your current provider that a transfer is being requested. There is no requirement to give them advance warning or seek their permission. Your contractual notice obligations are a separate matter from the porting process itself.
Ready to Port Your 1300 Number to Pickle?
If you are ready to move your 1300 number to a provider that gives you more control, better features, and a team that handles the process for you, get in touch with Pickle.
Call 1300 688 588, or email [email protected] and a member of the team will walk you through what is involved and get the process started.