So I’m finally being pushed into switching to fiber optic internet but wish to keep my existing landline phone number. It seems impossible to do this without knowing the RIO of one’s existing phone line. I’ve discovered that it is a 12 character ID number for one’s phone line as well as a place in South America.
Simple to find out the RIO, or so I’m told. Just dial 3179 from the phone in question and all will be revealed by an automated voice. Only thing is, like so many such things here in France, the system simply doesn’t work. Dialing 3179 just gets me an automated voice that says that this number is not attributed !
So I think to myself that I’ll ask our phone service provider (Napsis). They responded very quickly to my e-mail enquiry, but curiously to me it seems that my single phone line has two different RIOs. There is the ‘RIO Portabilité’ and then there is the ‘RIO Orange’ which is completely different.
So, can anyone enlighten me as to why my single landline phone line has two different RIOs ?
This is a guess, but maybe Orange are the underlying service provider that Napsis resells so there is a separate code for their records?
I would think that the RIO Portabilité is the code you need to give to get your number transferred. In the UK they call this a PAC code.
Yes, I think you are probably right on both points.
I suppose I’ll probably end up with a fiber connection from Orange, but it galls me that I keep being lured to their website by offers that it subsequently turns out I cannot have because I already have one of their liveboxes. It seems that making me pay more than a new customer is how they reward my having been a loyal customer of theirs for over 20 years.
Go elsewhere. Go to ariase.com and put your current number in the fibre test, no other info is required. It will tell you who can supply you and the price and features. Also, even if you stay with Orange you can often get a lower price by going through Ariase.
I receive regular updates from Ariase so decided to give it a go now that I have the RIO for my landline.
I entered all the info requested in order to be able to keep my existing phone number and pressed the ‘continue’ button.
A message appears on the screen telling me that my number cannot be transferred and that I am obliged to have a new number. Of course there is no explanation of why this is the case, and I’m a bit perplexed about it bearing in mind that my existing phone number is a normal one starting with 02.
Anyway, I was so annoyed that I just closed the browser and went to tend the roses. I really don’t want to have to go through all the hassle of having my phone number changed.