To change operator while keeping your landline or mobile phone number, you must recover your RIO. A code that you can obtain quickly and easily by calling 3179, a free number common to all operators.
Do you want to change mobile operator or Internet service provider without losing your current phone number? It’s possible, and even easy, thanks to what’s called portability. This procedure, framed by law, and in particular by the regulatory authority for electronic communications, postal services and press distribution (Arcep), allows any user of a telephone line, fixed or mobile, to keep their number free of charge in the event of a change of operator. Formerly complicated, this operation has been greatly simplified since 2015 by the generalization of the identity statement operator (RIO) and the establishment of a service common to all operators: 3179. A call of a few seconds is enough to obtain the essential RIO code.
Portability – also called porting – refers to the procedure allowing you to keep your phone number when you change operator – we say that the number has been “ported”. This completely free approach works for both mobile plans and Internet subscriptions, regardless of the operators involved – current and future, or old and new, if you prefer.
Please note, portability is not automatic! And, above all, it must be anticipated. To benefit from it, you must request it when taking out a new contract – mobile plan or Internet subscription – with the new operator. In addition to your contact details and other miscellaneous information, you will need to give them a special code, your Operator Identity Record (RIO) which will allow them to identify your line and carry out all the technical and administrative procedures to transfer your phone number.
Portability has another advantage: it simplifies the formalities, in particular the termination of subscription – contract, therefore. So, by asking for your number portability, your new operator takes care of everything, including canceling your current subscription with your operator. You therefore have nothing else to do, except to return the equipment made available to you – boxes and accessories – in the case of an Internet subscription.
The porting is not immediate, because it depends on certain technical deadlines which condition the effective activation of your new line – connections in the connection node for Internet, sending of Sim card, etc. It is generally done in a few days for a mobile line: in principle, it takes three working days – excluding Sundays and public holidays, therefore – at most between the time when you request the portability of your number and when your line is activated by the new operator. The procedure is obviously longer than the portability of a fixed number, taking into account the operations to be carried out. In all cases, you are informed of the date and time by SMS or email. It happens that the line is completely cut for a moment when switching between the two operators, but it is more and more rare, and more often the transition is immediate – you just have to think about changing the Sim card in the case of a mobile! Note, however, that the delay is longer in the Overseas Territories than in Metropolitan France.
What is the RIO?
Better known by the acronym RIO, the operator identity statement is a unique identification code made up of twelve alphanumeric characters – numbers and letters – associated with each telephone, landline or mobile line. For example, 01P39SA08JFW. This code is obviously not formed at random: it contains groups of characters which give information about the operator, the line, etc. Thus, an RIO of the form AABCCCCCDDD breaks down as follows:
- The first two characters (AA) correspond to the operator: 01 for Orange, 02 for SFR, 03 for Bouygues Telecom, 04 for Free Mobile, etc.
- The third character (B) corresponds to the type of customer: E for companies, P for individuals.
- The following characters (Danemark) correspond to the contract number, therefore to the customer.
- Finally, the last three characters (DDD) contain a control code generated by an algorithm from the other information.
Each RIO is unique. You will have as many RIOs as there are lines – and phone numbers – even if they are all with the same operator.
Be careful not to confuse certain characters when reading an RIO: it is common to take the letter O with the number 0 (zero), or the letter I with the number 1. The integrated control code is there for avoid mistakes.
Obtaining the RIO is very simple for individuals, because, for several years, it has been done through a one-stop shop, free of charge, common to all operators and open 24 hours a day. h on 24 and 7 days a week 3179.
- To retrieve the RIO from your mobile line, all you have to do is call with your mobile phone the 3179, whatever your operator (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, NRJ Mobile, Prixtel, La Poste Mobile, etc.). This service is completely free, and the call is not deducted from your plan. A voice robot then tells you if your number is linked to a commitment and dictates your RIO. You do not need to write it down at this time, because it will also be sent to you by SMS in the process: all you have to do is recopy it or copy and paste it to make your portability request at your future mobile operator.
- To retrieve the RIO of the fixed line associated with your Internet subscription, all you have to do is call with your residential telephone the 3179, whatever your operator (Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues Telecom, Sosh, OVH, Prixtel, RED by SFR, etc.). This service is completely free, and the call is not counted against your communications. A voice robot reminds you of your line number and tells you if it is linked to a commitment, then it dictates your RIO to you. Write it down carefully at this time, using key 1 if necessary to repeat it, because it is not sent by SMS or email! Then all you have to do is communicate it to your future operator to make your portability request.
If you want to retrieve the RIO of your fixed line via your mobile or another fixed line, you must dial a free number specific to each operator:
- Orange Where Sosh : 0800 00 3179
- SFR Where RED by SFR : 0800 97 3179
- Free : 0805 92 3179
- Bouygues Telecom : 0800 94 3943
- Prixtel : 0800 71 3179
- Coriolis : 0800 71 3179
- OVH : 0805 69 3179
Finally, if you are a professional using a ‘company’ account, you do not need to call any telephone service: the RIO must appear on your invoices and in your subscriber area, on your operator’s website.