Handling local SIM cards while travelling for six months

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Dylan_G

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Hi,

Looking for some advice on how to manage my local SIM cards while I'm travelling for an extended period. I'm going to be out of SA for at least six months and I'm concerned about a few things:

Losing My Numbers: I have two SIM cards, one on Telkom Mobile and the other on FNB Connect. I want to make sure I don't lose access to either of these numbers due to inactivity.

Receiving OTPs: I need to ensure I can receive OTPs for banking and other services while I'm away.

I've thought of two options:

Option 1: Roaming

I could switch on roaming for both SIM cards and take them with me. This way, I can receive SMSs for OTPs directly. However, I'm worried that being out of the country for more than six months might result in my numbers being deemed inactive by the South African networks. Not sure what the costs are here.

Option 2: Leaving SIMs at Home

I could leave both SIM cards with my family in a phone that will be on at all times. This would ensure the numbers remain active in SA. My family can make a call on both SIMs at least once a month to keep them active.

For handling OTPs, there are several options to receive SMSs remotely:

Link to Windows, Samsung Flow, Join: All allow remote access SMS access and will forward SMS notifications to the devices that I take with me.
SMS Backup+ Tool: Backs up received SMSs to my Gmail account, allowing me to access them.

Given these options, I'm leaning towards leaving the SIMs at home. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice on the best approach? Are there any pitfalls with the notification forwarding apps or other considerations I should be aware of?

Thanks
 
Dylan_G said:
Hi,

Looking for some advice on how to manage my local SIM cards while I'm travelling for an extended period. I'm going to be out of SA for at least six months and I'm concerned about a few things:

Losing My Numbers: I have two SIM cards, one on Telkom Mobile and the other on FNB Connect. I want to make sure I don't lose access to either of these numbers due to inactivity.

Receiving OTPs: I need to ensure I can receive OTPs for banking and other services while I'm away.

I've thought of two options:

Option 1: Roaming

I could switch on roaming for both SIM cards and take them with me. This way, I can receive SMSs for OTPs directly. However, I'm worried that being out of the country for more than six months might result in my numbers being deemed inactive by the South African networks. Not sure what the costs are here.

Option 2: Leaving SIMs at Home

I could leave both SIM cards with my family in a phone that will be on at all times. This would ensure the numbers remain active in SA. My family can make a call on both SIMs at least once a month to keep them active.

For handling OTPs, there are several options to receive SMSs remotely:

Link to Windows, Samsung Flow, Join: All allow remote access SMS access and will forward SMS notifications to the devices that I take with me.
SMS Backup+ Tool: Backs up received SMSs to my Gmail account, allowing me to access them.

Given these options, I'm leaning towards leaving the SIMs at home. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice on the best approach? Are there any pitfalls with the notification forwarding apps or other considerations I should be aware of?

Thanks
Click to expand...
A SIM will not be deactivated if you are on roaming outside the country with SMS roaming enabled as it will be revenue generating which is the requisite for keeping a SIM active.
 
IamNoone said:
A SIM will not be deactivated if you are on roaming outside the country with SMS roaming enabled as it will be revenue generating which is the requisite for keeping a SIM active.
Click to expand...
Ah, okay great. That might be the simplest option.
 
My phone takes an eSIM. It can accommodate 14, Just switch the ones you want on or off
 
DapperDanMan said:
It's impossible to lose an eSIM because they don't actually exist! ;)

So the next time when you lose your phone, you could simply re-register your eSIMs onto another phone.
Click to expand...
Lol, I didn't mean how would it help me with losing SIM cards. I meant how would it help with the keeping the numbers alive thing.

Using an eSIM with roaming enabled and using a physical SIM with roaming enabled should be the same thing.

Then I'd just use a foreign eSIM (airalo or something similar)
 
Dylan_G said:
Lol, I didn't mean how would it help me with losing SIM cards. I meant how would it help with the keeping the numbers alive thing.

Using an eSIM with roaming enabled and using a physical SIM with roaming enabled should be the same thing.

Then I'd just use a foreign eSIM (airalo or something similar)
Click to expand...

And your OTPs?
 
SA sim in one physical slot, foreign sim in other and when in SA the data goes from the SA sim and the foreign one goes on roaming, overseas the foreign sim handles the data and incoming voice and local calls. As receiving SMS is free while roaming, foreign sim is nice for any foreign OTPs. Also have an option to convert the foreign sim to an esim through the foreign mobile company website.
 
you could use something like Twilio. i have an SA number i keep registered there. SMS and voicemails get transcribed and sent to my email
 
pstation said:
you could use something like Twilio. i have an SA number i keep registered there. SMS and voicemails get transcribed and sent to my email
Click to expand...
I take it you’re not following what he’s trying to do? He’s got Telkom sims he needs to keep active.
 
bwana said:
I take it you’re not following what he’s trying to do?
Click to expand...
he wants to keep his SA phone number while abroad and still receive sms's and such, right? that is my use case for it
 
pstation said:
he wants to keep his SA phone number while abroad and still receive sms's and such, right? that is my use case for it
Click to expand...
How do you port an existing number to them?
 
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