How To Port BSNL To Airtel? A Comprehensive Guide

By Lavanya Kokardekar

SEO | Content Editor

Having worked in the field of content for nearly 3 years, Lavanya is one of our crew who makes the wheels turn. With a passion for writing and an admiration for technology, she brings a unique blend of creativity and technical understanding to her work. Her ability to craft compelling content sets her apart.

Choosing the right service provider is a crucial decision that you must undertake with caution. However, sometimes, you may select one that might not meet your expectations. On similar lines, if you’re wondering how to port BSNL to Airtel, you’ve come to the right place. You can port online through their App, or you can do it physically by visiting the store. Read on to find more!

How to Port BSNL to Airtel in Easy Steps?

The solution to ‘How to port from BSNL to Airtel?’ is quite simple. You can change your mobile service provider either online or by visiting the store.

How To Port BSNL To Airtel Online?

Follow these simple steps to do a BSNL to Airtel port online in the comfort of your home.

1. Send an SMS “PORT<space><your mobile number>” from your existing number to 1900. This will generate a UPC or Unique Porting Code by initiating a porting request to Airtel.
2. After this, you will receive a port number SMS containing the UPC. It is valid for 4 days, except for Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern states, where it will be valid for 30 days.
3. You can either visit the Airtel Thanks App or Airtel’s official website to find the plan of your choice.
4. You will be required to fill out a form with your personal details, like address, email, mobile number, etc.
5. After submitting the form, you can expect a call from an Airtel executive to inform you about your Airtel SIM delivery.
6. At the time of delivery, you will be required to show valid proof of identity and address to the delivery executive and the UPC.
7. The SIM will be activated within 48 hours of delivery.

How To Do A BSNL To Airtel Port Offline?

In case you don’t wish to port from BSNL to Airtel online, you can carry out the process physically by visiting a nearby Airtel store. Here’s how.

1. Visit your nearby Airtel store. Ensure you carry all the necessary documents.
2. You will be required to send an SMS “PORT<space><your mobile number>” from your existing number to the SIM port number 1900 to initiate a porting request to Airtel and generate a UPC or Unique Porting Code.
3. Give the documents, UPC, alternative mobile number and generated OTP to the Airtel executive at the store.
4. Pay the initial cost of your Airtel plan.
5. Your SIM will be ported to Airtel within 48 hours of completing the formalities.

Choosing The Right Airtel Prepaid & Postpaid Plan

As elaborated in the above sections, Airtel offers several benefits to its consumers that make its plans worth getting. For MNP (Mobile Number Portability) prepaid users, Airtel recommends 2 significant recharge plans as follows.

• INR 297: 1.5GB data/day with unlimited calls for 28 days.
• INR 497: 1.5GB data/day with unlimited calls for 56 days.

Similarly, for MNP (Mobile Number Portability) postpaid users, Airtel recommends 4 prominent postpaid plans offered at the following prices.

• INR 499: 75GB data with rollover and unlimited local/STD & roaming calls/month.
• INR 749: 125GB data with rollover and unlimited local/STD & roaming calls/month.
• INR 999: 210GB data with rollover and unlimited local/STD & roaming calls/month.
• INR 1,599: 250GB data with rollover and unlimited local/STD & roaming calls/month.

Whether you choose from Airtel prepaid plans or Airtel postpaid plans, you get Wynk Music App, Apollo 24|7, Free Hello tunes and similar services. Furthermore, OTT services, like Netflix, Disney+Hotstar, Airtel XStream, and Amazon Prime Video, are included in the plans.

Here are some of the popular Airtel prepaid plans that customers can explore. Note that subscriptions of Wynk Music and Apollo 24|7 Circle are included in each plan.

Here are some of the popular Airtel postpaid plans that customers can explore. Note that subscriptions of Wynk Music and Apollo 24|7 Circle are included in each plan.

How To Track The Status Of The SIM Port Number?

You can easily track the status of SIM port number online through the MNP website given by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI. Most importantly, determine in which zone you fall. Northern and western states of India fall in Zone 1 service area. On the other hand, southern and eastern states come under Zone 2 service area.

To track the status of the SIM port number, you can directly contact your providers via their customer care number. Follow these steps to find the status of your SIM port number.

1. Enter your mobile number.
2. Enter the UPC Code.
3. Click “I am not a robot” for additional verification.
4. Click MNP Status to find the accurate status.

• Benefits of Mobile Number Portability
• You have the flexibility to choose a suitable network.
• You can use the same number in all records by merely changing the service provider.
• You can switch between prepaid and postpaid plans conveniently.
• You get the option of selecting a mobile number of your choice.
• You can access additional benefits included in the plans of other providers by porting with ease.

Reasons & Requirements For A BSNL To Airtel Port

As important as it is to select a suitable provider, such as BSNL, it may happen that you’re unsatisfied with the services offered by your provider. Choosing to port in such cases is a wise decision. However, before learning how to port BSNL to Airtel, consider the following reasons that may lead you to port your number.

1. Insignificant network coverage
2. Fewer benefits offered in the plan
3. Better compensation of price
4. Flexibility to switch plans
5. Enhanced service
6. Customer care and support

When looking specifically at Airtel, we can observe that it is one of the best service providers in India. Here are some of the top reasons why Airtel is the primary choice for many.

1. Unlimited calling and texting: All Airtel postpaid plans offer unlimited calling and texting for local, STD and roaming calls.
2. Data rollover: Airtel allows its users to roll over their data from month to month. This means that you can carry forward your unused mobile data to the next month free of charge.
3. High-speed Internet: Airtel offers an incredible service of high-speed Internet, so users never have to worry about buffering, lagging and long download periods.
4. Add-ons: Add-on connections or family plans offered by Airtel are a great way to manage the connections of all your family members through one plan.
5. Additional benefits: Along with Airtel’s prepaid or postpaid plans, several entertainment apps and VIP services, like Disney+Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Wynk Music, Airtel XStream and more, are included.

In spite of the above reasons, you may want to continue with BSNL or port from Airtel to BSNL. The most significant one is the cost-effectiveness. BSNL offers many postpaid and prepaid plans at affordable prices when compared to other telecom providers in India. The BSNL prepaid plans start from as low as INR 147, whereas BSNL postpaid plans begin from INR 199. Ultimately, the decision lies in your preferences and needs.

How To Port From BSNL To Airtel: Eligibility Criteria

Before exploring the different ways to port from BSNL to Airtel, let us first look at the eligibility criteria.

• The SIM has been functional under the previous operator for a minimum of 90 days.
• No dues should be remaining from the previous month’s bill.
• No contractual or legal obligations should remain standing at the time of porting.
• No requests to change the owner of the SIM are ongoing.
• The current SIM or number isn’t under any legal proceedings.

Once you’re sure you fit the eligibility criteria, you can proceed to the next step of how to port from BSNL to Airtel!

How To Port From BSNL To Airtel: Required Documents

BSNL to Airtel port, being an official process, requires you to submit a few documents. The significant documents that you’ll need during the application process are:

• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of identity
• Proof of address.

Here are the documents that qualify as valid proofs under the prerequisites.

What Are The Challenges Faced During BSNL To Airtel Port?

Although the answer to how to port BSNL to Airtel is quite straightforward, you may encounter certain challenges. Some of the common issues are highlighted below.

1. Contract: You may have an ongoing contract with your current service provider, BSNL, which will hinder you from porting to Airtel.
2. Ownership: If the ownership rights of the mobile number aren’t clear, it may cause unnecessary discrepancies during porting.
3. Service gap: The standard time for a BSNL to Airtel port is 48 hours. During this time, your mobile port number isn’t active at the previous provider and hasn’t been activated at the new provider either. This results in an inability to use the number until the transfer process is completed.
4. Inaccuracies: Inputting incorrect information, mobile number, UPC and submitting invalid proofs of identification may cause further delays in the porting process.

The best way to deal with these challenges is to ensure that you fulfil all the eligibility criteria and carry out the process with accuracy. Otherwise, you can visit the nearby Airtel store or contact Airtel customer care services.

What Care Should Be Taken Post-Porting To Airtel From BSNL?

According to the guidelines of MNP, the duration for activation of SIM port number is 48 hours in the same state and 4 days in different states. However, in Jammu & Kashmir and northeastern states, the time period is 15 days. You will receive the confirmation of your porting through SMS sometime prior to the activation of the Airtel plan.

Verifying your network after you’ve completed the process of how to port from BSNL to Airtel is crucial for numerous reasons. Most importantly, the services and benefits offered through the porting must be satisfactory to your needs. For more reasons, refer to the list below.

1. Checking the porting: To ensure that the porting process is successful.
2. Verify the network coverage: To make sure that your mobile receives adequate network coverage for optimal functioning.
3. Quality of services: To verify whether the quality of calls, SMS and other services is equivalent to what was offered before porting.
4. Speed: To check the speed of the data of your mobile network and whether it fits your Airtel plan.
5. Troubleshooting: To find and resolve any issues that may have cropped up during porting.

• How To Test The Network After A BSNL To Airtel Port?
• Call: Easily the best way is to place a call and verify that there are no issues or network disconnectivity.
• SMS: You can also check the network connectivity by sending an SMS to a familiar contact.
• Data services: Browse the Internet, download or upload files and perform other actions that may require high data connectivity.

A Comparative Analysis Of BSNL & Airtel Services

The following table provides an insight into the key differences between BSNL and Airtel services.

Before anything else, Airtel's top priority lies in customer satisfaction and fostering an incredible user experience. Bharti Airtel ensures that all prepaid or postpaid plans offer the best compensation through its services and additional benefits. It has better connectivity, network coverage and data allowance, among other benefits.

Airtel is a better choice since they offer satisfactory customer service and more benefits in their plans, points that are lacking in BSNL plans. Moreover, they make up for their high prices through excellent services, network coverage and connectivity. By porting from BSNL to Airtel, consumers can look forward to a better service experience, more benefits and enhanced connectivity with Airtel.

By Lavanya Kokardekar

SEO | Content Editor

Having worked in the field of content for nearly 3 years, Lavanya is one of our crew who makes the wheels turn. With a passion for writing and an admiration for technology, she brings a unique blend of creativity and technical understanding to her work. Her ability to craft compelling content sets her apart.