PAC codes and transferring your Jersey number

A PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) allows consumers to continue using their old phone number if they change service providers.

For many, this can remove the stress of having to let all your family and friends know you have a new number.

So, why can’t you just transfer your Jersey number if you want to join a UK provider?

After contacting local providers, they stated that the number ranges in use in the Channel Islands are not available for use by UK operators, and likewise Channel Island operators do not have access to UK operator numbers. The operators are governed by a different regulation in Jersey compared to the UK. A UK number may be able to roam on a Jersey network but porting between UK and Channel Island networks is not available.

If a customer chooses to purchase a service from a UK operator for regular use in Jersey they need to be aware of ‘permanent roaming’ clauses, where UK providers may either cut off a service or charge punitive rates for customers who use the service outside of the UK (not just in Jersey) for more than a certain number of days per month, or a longer period of time.

More from Subscriptions and Utilities

  • Mobile phone bills: why it pays to compare before you commit

    Mobile phones are an essential part of everyday life for most Islanders, but many of us may be paying more than we need to for our monthly contracts. With a growing choice of providers and packages, the Jersey Consumer Council is reminding consumers that it’s worth taking the time to shop around and compare deals before signing up.

  • Do I need a TV licence? Take our quiz

    Whether you need a TV licence or not depends on what you watch... While that may be generally understood, the exact rules are often less clear, thanks to social media comments sharing incorrect information. So we thought we'd look at the TV licensing rules and how they apply in Jersey.

  • Water bills to increase in 2026 to help safeguard water supplies

    Water bills will be rising next year by an average of almost £60 per household, as part of an ‘essential strategy’ by Jersey Water to safeguard current and future water supplies. The utility provider has set out its plans to address future water shortages and protect the Island’s water supply, in a new five-year strategy.