[LINK] Ported telephone numbers

[David]

Just for clarification, I think the way it's supposed to work is that the carrier to which a number is allocated publishes a PLNR ("Ported Local Number Register") file which is available to all other carriers.  This shows the new holder of the number in question, so calls can be routed directly without going near the owner of the number.

But what seems to have happened with the advent of the NBN is that numbers may not be ported at all.  Telstra, at least, may hold onto the number and charge to reroute calls, and do so in a way which isn't apparent to retail customers.  The recharge is significant too, $10 p.m. in my case, a third of the old POTS line rental.

Grrr...  Is this in the spirit of number portability?

DavidL