How can I keep my UK mobile number active while living in Thailand without flying back?

Take a look at Expatfone.. which works through a proprietary app' called 'Devyce'.. it allows you to port your Uk mobile number into what is effectively a virtual (VoIP) network.. so you don't have to change your number.. you get free inward and outward calls and texts to all standard Uk landlines and mobiles.. and a free voicemail service built in.. it makes and receives calls as if you were still in the Uk.. so it doesn't alert the person you are calling to the fact that you are overseas.. similarly, people calling you don't get an abnormal (ie. overseas) ringtone.. so it's great for maintaining anonymity with people that don't need to know your location.. particularly useful if your Uk bank is targetting customers who reside overseas for account closure.. and will allow you to receive the codes for all those apps that have 2-factor authorisation security protocols (like your bank) without any hassle.. there's a fixed monthly subscription after a trial period.. and that may be discounted for the first few months.. I've found it to be a simple and reliable solution.

Ps. You don't need to be in the UK to port your number.. it's all done via their website.. and since there's no physical sim there's nothing to mail to you 👍

It was in news recently that the 3G network is being closed down totally

Everything is now 4G or

5G

1p mobile works well in Thailand, £40 a year, all manageable online, order a SIM card to be sent to a friend or relative in the UK, get them to activate the SIM, and send it to you in the post.

Why do you need a uk number ? It doesnt affect anything. Just leave your old number as contact number and add a 2nd number via online banking being your thai number.

Depending on the maker model of your phone, you should be able to ask your network to swap it for an E sim. Which is a virtual sim built into phones so you are simply swapping your number to become an E-sim .This is what I did with mine no need to visit in my case. EE shop.

e sim should work you just swap you your sime with the built in software at least oni phone as an optoin during set up

You could try contacting your UK provider and ask them to change to eSIM. Of course your phone needs to support it. Only because 3G isn’t working in the UK anymore doesn’t mean you can’t connect to thai providers. I switched before i left and for various reasons required a new eSIM from my swiss provider. They give you the necessary information to activate it

Update your phone if its 3g @Anon

Get an e sim

The joy of the modern digital era. Keep up or get left behind

Get a modern phone and a UK ESIM online. Turn off data roaming

My Lloyd's works no problem with thai sim

Tesco did the same to me get another phone stick your sim in turn off roaming

Or smarty sim, delivered to your sister, who activates it and posts it to you, hands over control before it arrives or thereabouts

Check with your service provider if your current SIM card is G compatible, if you see G on the phone when roaming you should be okay.

Get someone to get Tesco pay as you go and post it out :-)

Get a # from Tello

I'm with EE.. top up £5. Sending a txt every 3 months keeps the sim "alive". Download the App makes topping up simple

I just updated my contact numbers online to my thai numbers. That is with lloyds, works ok on there.

My giff gaff still works

Internet number works great registered as uk i have no problems

Get giffgaff sim

Get someone in the UK to buy a SIM for you and stick it in their phone to activate it. Then pop it in the post

I believe you need to make an outgoing call and have credit on the sim number

3G cell is being switched off. 4G and 5G will continue. How old is your SIM card as it should still roam for OTPs. You can get UK SIMs on Shopee. You can get a virtual UK mob number called More Mins that renews once a year. All UK networks are retiring 3G to use the bandwidth. 2G also but slower as the UK smart meters use 2G for data sending.

I use Swytch for £6 a month.

You are sure it is not a scam !

I use a system called expatfone google it. Are you from 🇬🇧