Unsurprisingly, many Filipinos have a few SIM cards in their homes. This is primarily because SIM cards are relatively inexpensive and widely available in the Philippines. You can even buy another one for backup purposes.
In any case, the following is a significant point you need to consider: SIM cards expire or become inactive after some period of inactivity or not being used.
Here we’ll show you what the policies are as far as the expiration dates of your SIM cards are concerned in the Philippines, whether they are from Smart, Globe, TNT (Talk’N Text), DITO, GOMO, or Sun Cellular.
Also, we will explore how to prevent the expiration of SIM cards and recognize if it has already expired.
What are the reasons for the expiration of a SIM card?
When there is no activity on your SIM card for some time, a telco considers that your SIM card has expired. In the case of “lack of activity,” it means that you haven’t reloaded your number or that you haven’t performed any paid transactions with the service provider.
What is the approximate expiration date of a SIM card?
The following list shows how long you can go without a load on your mobile number before it is terminated or expires. This list is subject to change anytime by the telco. You should keep your phone number inactive for no more than 60 days or two months at a time.
Network: Globe Prepaid
Expiration: 60 days
Network: Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi
Expiration: 180 days
Network: Globe Xtreme Home Prepaid WiFi
Expiration: 180 days
Network: TM (Touch Mobile)
Expiration: 365 days
Network: Smart Prepaid
Expiration: 180 days
Network: Smart Bro Prepaid
Expiration: 180 days
Network: PLDT (Smart Bro Home WiFi SIM)
Expiration: 180 days
Network: TNT (Talk ‘N Text)
Expiration: 180 days
Network: Sun Cellular
Expiration: 120 days
Network: GOMO
Expiration: 365 days
Network: DITO
Expiration: 90 days
Network: Cherry Prepaid
Expiration: 60 days
- In mobile internet terms, what are G, E, 3G, HSPA, H+, 4G, LTE, and 5G?
- How to customize and activate a DITO phone number
How long before a SIM card that has not been used or activated expires?
In most cases, an inactive or unused SIM card has an expiration date that is listed on the packaging that comes with it. Hence, when you are planning to purchase a new SIM, always check it out before buying it.
If a SIM card has not been activated or used for some time, how long does it take before it becomes valid again?
There is usually an expiration date listed on the packaging that comes with an inactive or unused SIM card, making it easy for individuals to check. As a result, whenever you plan to buy a new SIM card, check to see if it’s the right one before you buy it.
Is it possible to receive a notification when the SIM card is about to expire?
You should receive an SMS notification from your telco or mobile network provider before they terminate your SIM card so that you have time to address any issues if you plan to keep it.
Here are some quick steps on how to check if the SIM card you are using has expired
When your mobile device has an expired SIM card, you will notice the following:
- Unable to receive texts, calls, or prepaid balance;
- Inability to connect to the internet;
- No signal bars can be seen in the status bar.
What are the steps for reactivating an expired SIM card?
Most telecom service providers do not offer any kind of service that allows you to reactivate a SIM card that has expired.
We all know the importance of our Mobile Network numbers. We use it in bank registrations, email verifications, and our friends and family have already saved your contact number to their phonebooks. Thus, it won’t hurt to give it a shot since you can contact their customer service hotlines, email, social media pages, and other platforms to see if they can help you.
While Globe at Home prepaid WiFi subscribers and Smart Bro Home WiFi subscribers can request a new SIM card free of charge from their respective networks, the replacement will come with a new number.
If you stopped using a SIM card because you did not like the offers that the network was offering you, we have some good news! Thanks to the Mobile Number Portability law, you can now change networks while keeping your phone number.
ALSO READ: What Causes My Smartphone to Disconnect from WIFI Network?
PHILTOWER is now providing 200 cell sites in the Philippines
