Global title translation in a telecommunications signalling network supporting number portability

The implementation of number portability in telephone systems gives rise to several problems amongst which is the need to modify the translation tables provided in signalling transfer points for the purpose of effecting global title routing of certain signalling messages. Prior to the advent of number portability, only the initial part of a subscriber number was needed to effect correct routing but number portability means that the full subscriber number is needed to perform correct routing. A method is disclosed that avoids the need to enlarge the translation tables held by STPs. Signalling links are monitored to detect messages needing to be routed by global title; the global title of each such message is then checked to see if it relates to a ported number and if this is the case, the global title is modified to a number that will result in the appropriate routing of the message on the basis of the existing translation tables of the STPs.