MNP
MNP (Mobile Number Portability) is a facility which allows mobile subscribers to retain their mobile number when switching from one mobile operator to another. A significant technical aspect of MNP is related to the routing of voice calls and mobile messages (SMS, MMS) to a number once it has been ported. There are various ways of implementing MNP for voice and messaging routing across the globe. One possibility is via the use of a central database of ported numbers. Before contacting a number this central database is queried for the current operator. This method is used in the USA. One of the very few countries that do not use a central database is the UK. This is also known as 'Indirect Routing' and is highly inefficient as it is wasteful of transmission and switching capacity. The international and European best practice is a mix of using a central database and local copies at the mobile operator which are synchronized frequently. This makes an operator more independent from outside failures.

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