SIM/Number expiry when using only 3G

[recre8]

Hey Guys

I have a Vodacom SIM card recently purchased and RICA'd. If I use it only in a 3G USB Modem, will the number expire?

I remember a few years ago there was a condition that a billable call had to be made at least once every x months from the number to keep it active.

tl;dr: Does you number still expire when using a Vodacom SIM card in a 3G modem only (i.e. no calls... ever)?

 

[Freaksta]

I would like to know too, cut up a 99c sim and have it in my iPad! If u recharge does that not keep it alive?

 

[recre8]

I phoned the customer support.... twice. The first guy said you need to make a call once every 180 days or at least had to before but he wasn't sure what the new policy was. The other guy said that you keed you number for life after RICA. Anyone else want to hazard a guess?

 

[VodacomData]

Inactivity Rule

An Inactivity Rule applies to all prepaid packages. This means that when an MSISDN has been inactive for a period of 215 consecutive days, that number will be deleted.

Activity is defined as:

Making or receiving calls, SMS’s, USSD, GPRS, etc
This includes calls to voicemail (121) and the recharge service (100)
And excludes calls to 111, 114, 1082, 199, 155, 112

Vodacom Prepaid Customers will be monitored continuously. Customers who have been inactive for a period of 208 days will be placed in Admin Lock Status for an additional 7 days. During this time the customer will not be able to recharge, make or receive calls or send SMSs.
At the end of the Admin Lock period the number will be deleted.
While the MSISDN is in Admin Lock the Customer can request to have the SIM unlocked by calling Customer Care.

 

[Terencek]

I think the OP was perhaps confusing MTN's weird rule which does not count data as a 'billable service' for keeping your SIM alive -- unless things have changed you still have to make an actual chargeable call of at least one minute, at least once every three months, or your SIM dies. It happened to me, taking a hundred bucks' worth of unused data bundle with it!