In January, the new rules for the process that allows you to keep your mobile number when switching operators were published in the Official Gazette of the Union. In statements to Lusa, an official source from Anacom explained at the time that the changes aim to "strengthen consumer protection".

Among these measures is the prohibition of companies charging direct fees for portability to end users who hold contracts associated with the numbers.

The introduction of a new compensation for customers who fail to meet the scheduled "physical network intervention," which requires rescheduling, was another point highlighted by the regulator.

The value of this compensation was set at 10 euros in the new regulation, but Anacom warned that this compensation will only be paid by the provider, i.e., the new contracted operator, "when the non-compliance is not due to reasons attributable to the end user."

Among the main changes is also the obligation of the receiving provider (RP) to ensure that portability and subsequent activation of numbers occur on the date expressly agreed with the customer, "as soon as possible and up to one working day from that date."

Furthermore, "in case of contract termination, and unless this right is waived at the time of service deactivation, the end user retains the right to port numbers from the National Numbering Plan (PNN) to another company," it added.