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Porting Terminology

TermMeaning
Actual FOC dateOnce the losing carrier has been informed about a port, and they've agreed on the date (and possibly time) that the numbers can be ported, the negotiated date is referred to as the actual FOC date.
Automated (Port Type)An automated port is processed by Bandwidth sending an API call to our on-net or off-net porting vendor to process the port-in.
COBCopy of bill - document that serves as proof of ownership of a number.
CarrierA carrier is a telephony network provider. The carrier provides the physical network (IP or PSTN) for your telephone calls.
Controlling RespOrgThe RespOrg that is currently responsible for a toll free number. For porting, the controlling RespOrg is the RespOrg that the number is being ported from. See also, Target RespOrg.
Country Code3-letter ISO-3166 country code that represents a country.
Draft Port-inA port-in or bulk port-in may be created as a “draft”. This allows information to be added to the draft as it becomes available, without involving the SUPP process, until the draft is submitted.
E.164 NumberA phone number in E.164 format. E.164 numbers start with a + followed by the country code and then the phone number.
Earliest EstimateOnce a port-in has been categorized into a port type and the losing carrier has been determined, the order will have an earliest-estimate date. This date is Bandwidth's estimate of the earliest requested FOC date that is not likely to be rejected for being too soon.
FOCFirm Order Commitment - Industry jargon for an agreed upon date when a number will port from the losing carrier to the winning carrier
HLRHome Location Register - A database in the mobile network that stores information necessary to support telephone features like calling name display and LNP. See SCP for the PSTN.
Internal (Port Type)An internal port-in is one in which telephone numbers that are already on Bandwidth's network are ported from one Bandwidth customer to another Bandwidth customer. For the winning account, it is a port-in. For the losing account, it is a port-out.
InvoiceA document that contains a list of charges for a customer and can serve as proof of ownership of a number.
LNPLocal Number Portability
LOALetter of Authorization - a legal document that serves as proof that the person responsible for a telephone number wishes to port that number from one service provider to another. The LOA document is part of the mechanism to prevent numbers from being ported without the knowledge or approval of the person that pays for the use of the number.
Local Service ProviderAny provider (e.g., voice provider, data provider) that administers and bills local exchange and related services for the End User.
LRNLNP Routing Number - A 10-digit number assigned to each SSP or MSC. The LRN is used to route calls to the switch where they are being served after being ported.
LSMSLNP Service Management System - An LNP network function that is responsible for updating SCPs and HLRs with mappings between ported TNs and LRNs.
LSRLocal Service Request - Industry jargon for a port-out request from the winning carrier to the losing carrier
Manual off-net (Port Type)In some rate centers and in Canada (currently), Bandwidth must partner with carriers that either have no automated porting interface, or Bandwidth has not implemented the porting interface. These ports are processed by Bandwidth's LNP team working with the vendor or carrier we have partnered with in that rate center.
Manual on-net (Port Type)Some large and complex port-ins for telephone numbers in rate centers in which Bandwidth has coverage are handled as manual port-ins. These ports are processed by Bandwidth's LNP team working with our on-net porting vendor.
Manual (Port Type)Manual ports contain non-NANP telephone. These ports are processed by Bandwidth's LNP team working with the vendor or carrier we have partnered with in that rate center.
MSCMobile Switching Center
NANP NumberThe North American Numbering Plan (NANP) number is a telephone numbering system used by many countries in North America like the United States, Canada, and others. NANP numbers start with +1, which is the country code.
Non-NANP NumberTelephone number that is not in the NANP telephone numbering system. Non-NANP numbers start with country codes like +44 (UK) or +32 (Belgium).
Network Service ProviderCarrier that provides the facilities and switch/equipment components needed to make up an End User's local telecommunications service.
NPACNumber Portability Administration Center - An LNP network function that serves as the source of truth for all ported numbers. There is one NPAC for the U.S. and one for Canada.
Number TypeClassification of a phone number based on its functionality and use case. Can be geographic, national, toll-free, shared-cost or premium.
Off-netTelephone numbers in rate centers where Bandwidth partners with another provider for coverage are referred to as off-net numbers.
On-netTelephone numbers in rate centers where Bandwidth has local coverage are referred to as on-net numbers.
Port-inPorting a number from another carrier or responsible organization to Bandwidth
Port-outPorting a number from Bandwidth to another carrier or responsible organization
Port TypeWhen a port-in is created, it is assigned a port type by Bandwidth that indicates how the port-in will be processed. Possible port types are: Automated (on-net and off-net), Internal, Manual off-net, Manual on-net, Manual toll free, and Manual.
PSTNPublic Switched Telephone Network - the legacy wireline telephone network in North America
Requested FOC dateThe date on which you want the port to complete. For some types of port-ins, the Requested FOC date can include a requested activation time. There are restrictions on how soon or how far into the future the requested FOC date may be. Once a FOC date has been agreed upon by the losing carrier, the order will have an actual FOC date.
RespOrgResponsible Organization - the carrier or service provider that is responsible for a toll free number. When toll free numbers are ported, they change from one RespOrg to another.
RespOrg ExceptionSome of Bandwidth's customers are designated as toll free number “responsible organizations”. These customers have their own RespOrg ID and generally want to keep their toll free number under that RespOrg ID, even though they are using Bandwidth's network to host the toll free numbers. RespOrg Exception customers have a list of RespOrg Exception RespOrg IDs configured in their account settings.
SCPService Control Point - A database in the PSTN that stores information necessary to support telephone features like calling name display and LNP. See HLR for the mobile network. For porting, the SCP maps ported telephone numbers to the LRN that is used to route calls to the ported numbers.
Service ProviderThe business to whom the subscriber has financial responsibility for the telephone numbers. This distinction is made because the service provider may or may not own the physical network equipment (see Network Service Provider) that is used to support telephone calls. A given provider may be a network service provider, a service provider, or both.
SOAService Order Automation - An LNP network function that creates Subscription Versions for each telephone number being ported, and interfaces with the NPAC
SSPService Switching Point - a telephony switch that serves PSTN numbers
Subscription VersionA record for a TN being ported that is created by the SOA of both losing and winning carriers. These records are delivered to the NPAC, who uses them to confirm that the losing carrier has agreed to port the number on the FOC date.
SUPPSupplement - Industry jargon for modifying a port-in order that has been submitted to the porting vendor
Target RespOrgFor porting, the RespOrg that a toll free number is being ported to.
TFNToll Free Number
TNTelephone Number - It will be noted where used if this does or does not include toll free telephone numbers
TriggeredAutomated port-ins can be designated as triggered, which means that the user may request an activation time on the actual FOC date. Port-ins that are not triggered are activated at 11:30 AM ET on the FOC date.
VendorA company that Bandwidth partners with for porting services. Porting vendors generally provide services like implementing LSR interfaces to the many carriers, or implementing the SOA interface for number porting.