24.02.2026

 

Many telephony users are interested in changing their current service provider by porting their existing number. However, porting a number does not cancel a user’s obligations under the contract concluded with the provider they are leaving, such as the payment of early termination penalties.

Minimum contractual period

Telephony providers usually set a minimum contractual period so they can recover the costs associated with commercial offers that include various user benefits. These benefits can refer not only to free or discounted equipment, but also to promotional tariff plans, free installation of services, etc. According to the law, this minimum contractual period cannot exceed 24 months.

Contract termination at the subscriber’s initiative, before the end of this period, usually triggers the payment of penalties for early termination. Porting a telephone number implies such a termination of the existing contract for that number.

What users who want to port their number should know

• Before submitting a porting request, users should check the current contract to see if the minimum contractual period has expired.
• Users may submit the porting request after the minimum contractual period ends, or they may ask the accepting provider (the provider to whose network they wish to port the number) to schedule the porting for a specific date. Important: The interval between submitting the request and the actual porting date may not exceed 25 days.
• If users want to port their number before the end of the minimum contractual, they should first ask the current provider about the conditions under which the existing contract will be terminated. Porting does not cancel any early termination penalties, but the provider may choose to waive these penalties, following direct negotiation with the user.

Where and how to complain

Where users encounter problems during the porting process, they should first contact the accepting provider (the provider to which they intended to port their number). If the provider does not offer a solution, users may contact ANCOM, using the dedicated complaint form available here. More information on how the porting process works is available at www.portabilitate.ro.

Issues related to the amount or calculation method of penalties charged by providers for early contract termination may be addressed to the National Authority for Consumer Protection and/or to the competent courts.