Answers for Canadian SIP trunking

At IXICA Communications Inc., we understand that for most businesses and individuals, a phone number is far more than a string of digits — it is the front door to your customers, your livelihood, and your identity. One of the most common concerns we hear from prospective clients evaluating a move away from the large incumbents is straightforward: "What happens to my number if something goes wrong with my carrier?"

This document is intended to put that concern firmly to rest.

IXICA is a facilities-based Type 1 Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) licensed and registered with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). We operate our own switching infrastructure with multiple points of presence across Canada, hold our own Central Office (CO) codes, and participate directly in the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium (CLNPC). In plain terms: we are not a reseller riding on someone else's licence — we are the carrier of record, governed by the same federal rules as Bell, Rogers, and Telus.

The sections below outline the regulatory framework that protects your number, the safeguards built into every port, and the multi-layered recovery protocols that exist even in the unlikely event of a carrier failure anywhere in the Canadian ecosystem.

---

1. The Regulatory Framework Behind Every Canadian Phone Number

Local Number Portability (LNP) in Canada is not a courtesy offered by carriers — it is a federal regulatory mandate enforced by the CRTC and operationalized through the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium (CLNPC). Every registered Telecommunications Service Provider (TSP) in Canada, IXICA included, is bound by a uniform, interoperable porting process.

Core Porting Mandates

Regulatory references:

• CRTC — Wireless and Local Number Portability
• Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium (CLNPC)
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-28

---

2. The Standard Porting Workflow — and Why It Cannot Be Blocked

The CRTC has deliberately engineered the porting workflow to eliminate the possibility of a losing carrier using delay or obstruction as an anti-competitive weapon. Here is what happens when you port to IXICA:

The "No-Prior-Cancellation" Rule — The Single Most Important Thing to Know

Never cancel your existing service before porting. IXICA handles the cancellation for you, automatically, at the moment the port completes.

• The Mechanism: You do not contact your current provider. IXICA acts as your legal proxy through the CLNPC.
• Why It Matters: If you manually cancel beforehand, the number is released back into the carrier's unassigned pool within minutes and becomes unportable.
• The Automated Switch: When IXICA submits the port request, the losing carrier's systems automatically flag the number for transfer and terminate the legacy service the instant the port completes — no double-billing, no service gap.

Verification & Letter of Authorization (LOA)

To protect you against unauthorized porting and SIM-swap fraud, IXICA validates account ownership before any port is submitted. We require:

• Full account name and registered service address
• Active account number with the losing carrier
• Account password, PIN, or hardware identifier (e.g., IMEI / ESN for mobile)
• A signed Letter of Authorization (LOA), digital or wet-ink

When a Port Can — and Cannot — Be Denied

Under CRTC rules, the losing carrier may only reject a properly constructed port request in two narrow circumstances:

1. The underlying number was already legally suspended or terminated before the port request was filed.
2. Critical account verification details fail to match.

A losing carrier cannot hold your number hostage for:

• ❌ Outstanding balances on your account
• ❌ Early contract-termination fees
• ❌ Disputed charges
• ❌ Equipment returns

These remain commercial matters between you and your former provider, and are entirely separate from your right to keep your number.

---

3. The Worst-Case Scenario: What Happens If a Carrier Fails?

This is the question that brought you to this document, and it deserves a direct answer.

The Foundational Principle: No Canadian Carrier Owns Your Number

Under CRTC numbering allocation rules, telephone numbers are a public resource. Carriers — including IXICA — are assigned blocks of numbers to administer on behalf of the Canadian public inventory. We are stewards, not owners. This single principle is the bedrock on which every consumer protection below is built. A bankrupt carrier cannot take your number with it, because it was never theirs to keep.

Tiered Recovery Architecture for Orphaned Numbers

Canada operates a multi-layered safety net for numbers stranded by a failed provider:

Phase 1 — Upstream Wholesale Carrier Escalation

Many smaller and "boutique" digital providers do not own their numbering blocks; they lease them from a tier-1 facilities-based carrier. If such a reseller ceases operations:

• The receiving carrier (e.g., IXICA, when you port to us) bypasses the insolvent reseller and files the port dispute directly with the upstream wholesale carrier that legally holds the Central Office (CO) code or NXX block.
• Supporting documentation — a signed LOA plus a historical invoice proving prior service — allows the upstream carrier to override the defunct reseller and release the number.

This is one of the structural reasons IXICA operates as a facilities-based Type 1 CLEC rather than a reseller. When you are an IXICA customer, your numbers sit on IXICA-administered CO codes within our own infrastructure — there is no intermediate reseller layer that could fail between you and the underlying network.

Phase 2 — Regulatory Intervention via CRTC and CCTS

For larger or more complex failures, two federal bodies are positioned to intervene:

• CRTC Emergency Transition Directives: In the event of a mass insolvency, the CRTC issues binding telecom decisions mandating a managed transition — including structural routing handovers to a "carrier of last resort" or a willing competitor authorized to absorb the orphaned infrastructure.
• Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS): The CCTS provides an independent consumer-complaint channel that operates outside the failing carrier's control.

Regulatory references:

• CRTC — File a Complaint
• Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS)

Phase 3 — The Aging / Quarantine Safeguard

Even if every other safeguard somehow fell short, Canadian numbering rules require disconnected numbers to pass through a mandatory quarantine ("aging") period — typically 45 to 90 days — before they may be wiped clean and reissued to a new customer.

This structural buffer exists specifically to give end users a recovery window in which to:

1. File a tracking claim with the CRTC or CCTS, and
2. Have a new carrier such as IXICA pull the number out of quarantine and back onto a live network.

---

4. Why IXICA Is Built for This Conversation

IXICA Communications Inc. was deliberately structured to remove the failure modes that worry end users about smaller carriers:

---

5. Summary: The Three Guarantees That Matter

1. Your number is yours. Under CRTC rules, no Canadian carrier — large or small — owns the numbers it administers. They cannot be withheld, sold, or lost with a failing provider.
2. The porting process is automated, regulated, and protected. IXICA submits, the CLNPC routes, and the losing carrier must release. No financial dispute, contract dispute, or administrative delay can lawfully block a valid port.
3. If something goes wrong, multiple independent safety nets activate. Upstream wholesale carriers, the CRTC, the CCTS, and the mandatory quarantine period each provide a separate, independent path to recover your number.

When you place your numbers on IXICA's network, you are placing them on a federally registered, facilities-based, Type 1 carrier infrastructure — fully integrated into the same regulatory framework that protects every telephone number in Canada.

---

IXICA Communications Inc. — Facilities-based Type 1 CLEC | SIP Trunking · Cloud PBX · Dedicated Fibre | Coast-to-coast Canadian coverage

This document is provided for informational purposes and reflects Canadian regulatory frameworks administered by the CRTC, CLNPC, and CCTS. It does not constitute legal advice.

What is number porting?

Number porting allows you to move an existing phone number from your current provider to IXICA while keeping the same number.

Can all numbers be ported?

No. Most local numbers can be ported, but not all rate centres are portable. Before submitting a port request, IXICA should confirm portability using a sample number.

Toll-free numbers are generally portable.

Should I cancel my existing service before porting?

No. Do not cancel your existing service before the port is complete. The number must remain active with the current provider during the porting process.

Cancelling service too early may cause the port request to fail and may result in loss of the number.

What information is required to port a local number?

The required information may include:

• The number or numbers being ported
• The current provider name
• The customer name or business name on file
• The service address
• A recent phone bill or Customer Service Record
• The account number, if required
• The authorized contact name, especially for U.S. numbers
• The requested port date

The information must match what the current provider has on file. Mismatched information is one of the most common reasons for port rejection.

What is a service address?

The service address is the physical address where the phone service is installed or assigned. It may be different from the billing address shown on the invoice.

For multi-location customers, each number may have its own service address. Incorrect service address information can cause the port request to be rejected.

What is a BTN?

BTN stands for Billing Telephone Number. It is usually the main number on the account and may be associated with other rollover numbers.

For some accounts, the BTN is the main published number. For others, it is simply the main billing number used by the current provider.

What are rollover numbers?

Rollover numbers are additional numbers associated with a main number or BTN. If the main number is busy, calls may roll over to one of these additional numbers.

When porting numbers that are part of a rollover group, it is important to understand which number is the BTN and whether all related numbers are being ported.

What is a stand-alone number?

A stand-alone number is a single independent number that is not part of a rollover group. Examples may include a fax line, alarm line, elevator line, or other dedicated line.

What is required to port a toll-free number?

A signed Letter of Authorization is required. The LOA must include the correct business name, contact name, address, and preferably the account number.

The information on the LOA must match what the current toll-free provider has on file. Toll-free numbers are often forwarded to another number, and the address on file may be old or different from the customer’s current address.

Can local numbers and toll-free numbers port on the same day?

Sometimes, but it should not be guaranteed. Toll-free ports can take longer than local number ports, and coordinating both for the exact same date may not always be possible.

How long does porting take?

Local number porting usually requires a minimum of 5 business days. More time is strongly recommended, especially if the port involves many numbers, multiple locations, a PRI, or incomplete information.

PRI ports may take 10 business days or more.

Can I choose the port date?

Yes, a requested port date can be provided. However, the date is not guaranteed until the port is accepted and confirmed by the current provider.

Port requests can usually be submitted in advance, which gives more time to resolve rejections or missing information before the requested date.

Can the port date be changed?

In many cases, yes. However, last-minute changes can create complications and may increase the risk of delay or service interruption.

What happens on the port date?

Unless a coordinated port is specifically requested and available, porting may occur at any time on the scheduled date.

Your PBX, SIP trunk, routing, and related configuration should be completed and tested before the port date to reduce the risk of downtime.

What is a coordinated port or hot cut?

A coordinated port, sometimes called a hot cut, is a port where timing is coordinated more closely between providers.

This may be available in certain cases and may involve additional charges. It must be requested when the port is submitted.

What should I avoid after submitting a port request?

Once the port request has been submitted, do not ask the current provider to make changes to the account.

Changes such as forwarding updates, address changes, service changes, disconnect requests, or other account modifications can cause the port to be rejected or delayed.

Can existing contracts or term agreements stop a port?

Usually, no. A number can often still be ported even if the customer is under contract with the current provider.

However, the current provider may charge early termination fees or other contractual charges. These charges are between the customer and the current provider and are not IXICA’s responsibility.

Can porting affect internet, alarm, fax, or other services?

Yes. If DSL, alarm, fax, elevator, debit machine, or other services are connected to the line being ported, those services may stop working when the number ports.

The customer is responsible for identifying these services and making alternate arrangements before the port date.

What is required when porting from a PRI?

PRI ports require additional information, including:

• PRI account number
• PRI circuit number
• A full list of all numbers on the PRI
• Confirmation of whether the BTN is being ported
• Customer Service Record, strongly recommended

If the BTN is being ported but not all PRI numbers are being moved, the customer may need to contact the current provider and assign a new BTN before the port can proceed.

What is required when porting a mobile number?

Mobile number porting requires the current provider account number. In many cases, a PIN or port-out security code is also required.

The mobile number must remain active with the current provider until the port is complete.

How is a mobile port authorized?

When a mobile number port is submitted, the current mobile carrier will usually send an SMS confirmation message to the user of the number being ported.

The user must reply Yes to confirm the port request. If the user does not respond in time, the port may be rejected or cancelled.

IXICA does not control when this SMS is sent. The message is sent by the current mobile carrier.

What if the user does not receive the mobile port confirmation SMS?

The user should contact their current mobile provider. IXICA cannot force the current carrier to send the SMS or control the timing of the message.

Before submitting the port, make sure the mobile device is powered on, active, able to receive SMS, and still connected to the current provider.

Is there another way to authorize a mobile port?

Yes. In some cases, the user of the mobile number can contact their current provider and place a pre-authorization on the account for the port.

This can help avoid delays if the user cannot reliably receive or respond to the SMS confirmation.

Who is responsible for authorizing the port?

The customer or authorized user is responsible for authorizing the port and providing accurate information.

For reseller or wholesale accounts, the reseller should keep records showing that the customer authorized the port, including the list of numbers to be ported.

What happens if a port is rejected?

IXICA will review the rejection reason and may request corrected or additional information. Common rejection reasons include incorrect service address, incorrect account number, incorrect authorized contact, missing PIN, pending changes with the current provider, or mismatched business name.

Should all numbers be tested after the port?

Yes. After porting completes, all numbers should be tested for inbound and outbound call flow, routing, caller ID, fax behavior if applicable, and any special configuration.

Any issue should be reported to IXICA as soon as possible.

What should I do after the port is complete?

After the port is complete and all numbers are working, contact the previous provider to confirm that any unnecessary services have been disconnected and that billing has stopped.

Porting the number does not always automatically cancel every related service with the previous provider.

Can IXICA guarantee that a port will complete on the requested date?

No. IXICA will make every reasonable effort to complete the port on the requested or confirmed date, but porting depends on the current provider, accurate customer information, account status, and no last-minute changes.

A confirmed port date is not an absolute guarantee.

How can I reduce delays or rejections?

The best way to reduce delays is to:

• Confirm number portability before selling or scheduling the port
• Provide a recent bill or Customer Service Record
• Confirm the exact service address
• Provide the correct account number and PIN if required
• Identify BTN, rollover, stand-alone, PRI, and mobile numbers clearly
• Avoid account changes with the current provider after submission
• Submit the request early
• Have all technical setup completed before the port date
• Monitor the porting ticket closely for updates or requests