Simple ways to manage and use your numerous SIM cards to avoid being blocked or de-registered from network

Up till now a lot of people still think that the four major GSM network provider in Nigeria no longer block SIM cards after a long period of not being used, but the truth of the matter is that the opposite is the case as when you fail to use any of your SIM over a long period of time, you will simply get de-registered and you will lose that SIM. 

When we talk of not using your SIM card over a long period of time, what we are trying to say is that maybe you take out your SIM from any of your device and failing to recharge it, not using it to make or receive calls, not using to send or receive messages and not using to browse.

If by any of the above means, you left your SIM card from any of the four major network providers in the country, MTN, Etisalat, Airtel and Glo un-used for a period of 3 months, you will be given a grace period of additional one month to make use of it, then if you still fail to make use of it at this period, then immediately after the grace period of 1 month expires, your SIM will immediately be de-registered from any of the network providers (blocked) and you will no longer be able to make use of it again.

You can read the latest update on airtel browsing with BIS on PC and other devices

Then what happens next after your SIM has been de-registered from network  is that after some long period of time, the network provider will recycle that your SIM and re-introduce it into the market for other subscriber to buy. 

That is why you notice that after a long period of time that when you decide to try calling that your SIM that was previously de-registered from network, the number rings, and the now rightful owner who made purchased the SIM in the market picks the call.

We noticed that most internet users across the country that makes use of the GSM network usually have more than one SIM, some even have the four of the SIM each from the four major network providers, which they mostly use for browsing and tend to alternate the SIM by using the one they consider best network in terms of low cost internet data subscription and also good internet speed which may be as a result of any location they happen to find themselves at any given moment.

So sometimes, on using any of the SIM, they make use of that particular one for a long period of time and thereby leaving the remaining three idle or in the state of oblivion and forgetting that these network providers still block SIM after a long period of not putting it to use.

For you to retain your SIM number and not to be de-register from any of the networks, you should always endeavour to make sure that at least you recharge them even if it is once in every 2 months with the lowest denomination of airtime even if you are not making use of them at present, just to keep them active, or you can easily transfer airtime to them once in a while and from time to time as this will prevent your un-used SIMs from getting blocked.

For this simple practice will make all your SIM to remain handy and active whenever you now decide to use them, because sometimes, you can’t just tell the location in which we will find yourself and who knows which of those your SIMs that you might now decide to use because of strong network availability in that your location that you happen to find yourself in.