Best way to have a sim just for a second number and emergency data to switch to

smoothso

Hey all! 

Got a kinda weird situation. 

Primary number - all good, loads of data and good deal. 
Secondary number - one I've had since needing a second line for a job a while ago. Keeping mainly as some people have this number, and some websites for 2FA etc. I also find it really handy when on holiday etc if my primary line doesn't have good signal, being able to switch to a different network for data. At the moment it's on a sim only contract deal with monthly allowances I never use. 

At the mo, I have both lines with different providers on sim only deals. Wondering what's the best/cheapest way to keep the second line, mainly for the number (Incoming calls and texts), but every now and then to pay for 10GB of data when needed?

Thanks in advance all. 

J_B

I have a Lebara Sim in my second slot - did cost 49ppm for 3GB data for 6 months, when it was going up to £4.50 I ditched it and got another which is rather more expensive at 99p, then 4.90 - same 3GB

Wouldn't get round keeping your number simply though!

flaneurs_lobster

Might be able to make a few suggestions of operators if you say who your primary service is with.

Stuart_W

Second line option that meets your requirements - 
RWG mobile "buy and forget" 5 year SIM for £15.99. 
You would normally need to make a chargeable call every few months to keep a PAYG account active, this one doesn't need that. The under 27p a month cost gets you 100MB of data each month - so that would nicely cover texts that come in via RCS or whatsapp texts if you don't have other data available. If you top it up you can then do one-off top ups that last for 30 days, £9 for 10GB, £15 for 20GB. No monthly bills involved as it is PAYG. Text a bundle code to 669 and data added instantly (apply the data via text code and not the website - the website isn't instant).

Uses EE signal so depends who primary line is with.

Regularly switching like J_B suggests from one introductory offer to another will certainly be cheaper, if you are not looking to regularly faff about or might miss the end of an introductory period, RWG might be easier. It can certainly fulfil the "one-off data" option. They often run promotions to get double top-up credit which would sit on the account until used. It doesn't expire.

dc_scotland

Some of the cheap Lebara (Vodafone) new customer deals that @J_B mentions:

3gb  £0.90       https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/msm/p/441223

5gb  £1.90       https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/msm/p/441174.html

15gb  £2.78     https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/uswitch/p/441122.html

21gb  £3.18     https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/uswitch/p/441210.html      

30gb  £3.58     https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/uswitch/p/441129.html

smoothso

My goodness you all rock! Thank you. The 5 year sim sounds ideal. 

flaneurs_lobster said:

Might be able to make a few suggestions of operators if you say who your primary service is with.

sorry good shout! O2 for primary line. Currently using 2 virtual sims for each line. 

nottsphil

smoothso said Currently using 2 virtual sims for each line. 

I've heard about those. Is it impossible to duplicate them (at least having 2 running at the same time) as is the case with physical SIMS? If not, then that could severely comprise 2-factor authentication 

flaneurs_lobster

Is a "virtual SIM" usually called an eSIM? Do you have a phone that can have 2 eSIMS active at the same time or do you have more than one loaded and can swap between them?

flaneurs_lobster

nottsphil said:

smoothso said Currently using 2 virtual sims for each line. 

I've heard about those. Is it impossible to duplicate them (at least having 2 running at the same time) as is the case with physical SIMS? If not, then that could severely comprise 2-factor authentication 

How do you mean @nottsphil? Two SIMs (eSIMS or otherwise) with the same phone number associated with them? Don't think the telcos systems allow that and I'm pretty sure that SIM cloning is a) hard and b) illegal.

savergrant

smoothso said:

My goodness you all rock! Thank you. The 5 year sim sounds ideal. 

flaneurs_lobster said:

Might be able to make a few suggestions of operators if you say who your primary service is with.

sorry good shout! O2 for primary line. Currently using 2 virtual sims for each line. 

I think there is some confusion over what is meant by 'line'. It doesn't seem likely that op means using two copies of the same esim in different devices.

smoothso

Spot on team! Sorry. Meant 2 e-sims. And yeh - you can have 2 active e-sims on most modern iPhones. 

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply.