Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is becoming increasingly common worldwide, complicating traffic routing to the correct network for service providers, including aggregators, signal providers, mobile network operators, banks, and other financial institutions.

Not knowing the identity of a mobile phone subscriber leads to incorrect traffic routing, which in turn results in unnecessary expenses. This is why MNP lookup service providers allow you to identify which network a phone number is subscribed to, ensuring messages are routed correctly, thereby reducing delivery costs and improving message delivery times.

What is MNP Lookup?

For the user, MNP, or number portability, simplifies the process of transferring their phone number to a different mobile operator.

For businesses, an MNP lookup involves querying the mobile network database to verify if a number has changed operators.

Message requests are sent and processed immediately so that the client receives the most up-to-date data. The goal of this project is to reduce costs and provide the most useful service possible for all users.

Find everything you need to know about the Mobile Country Code and the Mobile Network Code.

Why is it important for businesses to perform an MNP lookup?

Direct routing

For companies using A2P messaging to send bulk SMS via a platform, MNP Lookup is an efficient and cost-effective service that allows providers to optimize traffic routing expenses while improving customer service quality.

Securing personal data

MNP lookup also prevents companies from sending sensitive information—such as OTP keys and other account verification details—to a phone number that no longer belongs to its original owner.

It is crucial for businesses to maintain an up-to-date contact list to ensure the security of the information they transmit. With the MNP lookup service, you can protect both your customers and yourself against fraudulent and other illicit activities.

Geographic advantages

Over 40 countries in Europe have now implemented mobile number portability (MNP). In many countries, more than 40% of numbers are ported. Consequently, knowing whether a number has been ported is a key element for traffic distribution solutions for voice calls, SMS messaging, and RCS services.

Furthermore, using this service to verify if your customers are reachable allows you to identify the home network of your current customers and route your messages accordingly.

MNP lookup gives businesses a high level of certainty that the messages they send reach the right recipient.

Which industries can benefit from using MNP lookup?

This service is ideal for mobile network operators, SMS aggregators, voice carriers, banks, and financial institutions.

In general, any company that sends or exchanges SMS messages or manages a large database of mobile phone numbers can benefit from filtering their customers' MNP data.

MNP during an HLR lookup

Operators worldwide are connected by a network called "SS7" or "Signalling System #7." This network is used for exchanging information and forms the basis of the SMS messaging system. The HLR is a central database of all subscribers authorized to use the SS7 network.

The HLR, or "Home Location Register," is at the heart of every GSM mobile network in the world. It is used by the network to authenticate a phone when it registers with a transmitter, whether on the home network or roaming abroad.

Phone number verification occurs when the SS7 signaling network queries the Home Location Register (HLR) of any mobile subscriber.

This process is a fast, efficient, and accurate way to determine which network operator is currently serving a given mobile phone number.

An HLR lookup not only allows you to verify which mobile operator your contacts are subscribed to, but it also shows you exactly which country their numbers belong to and, if they have been ported, what their original operator was.

Octopush offers you the ability to perform this HLR lookup on your contact list. Perform lookups and access HLR data from your own software using our API. Our service is very affordable with a simple flat rate per lookup, providing you with nearly immediate results depending on the size of your contact list.