[52216] Starting September 2026: Russia will allow full number portability between regions
[52216] Starting September 2026: Russia will allow full number portability between regions
The Russian government has approved a reform that allows citizens to keep their mobile phone number when moving between geographical regions, even when switching telecommunications operators.
Good news for telecom subscribers in Russia: Nationwide number portability from September 1
Starting September 1, 2026, Russian citizens will enjoy the ability to keep their mobile phone number even when moving to reside in another region. According to a report by Readovka (which takes a distinctly pro-government line), Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an official decree enshrining this right, after years in which a regional move sometimes required a change of number or dealing with expensive rates due to domestic roaming usage.
According to the report in Readovka, the process will require submitting a request in person or digitally via the "Gosuslugi" (government services) portal. Other bodies reporting on the move, including Новости Москвы and Московская Хроника, note that the option to keep the number will also be valid in cases where the subscriber decides to switch telecom providers – a particularly critical step in situations where the previous network does not have infrastructure coverage in the new area of residence.
Российская Газета | Новости, which is identified with the official establishment's positions in Moscow, highlighted the economic aspect of the reform. Government officials noted that currently, customers who move to a different geographical region are forced to keep their original plan, which leads to high costs for calls to the new region. "Keeping the number will also be possible when changing providers, which is especially important if the previous provider is not present in the new region," was written in the report by RG.