Do you need information on how to reactivate a Cell C Sim card? We recently published an article in which we noted that Cell C disables numbers that are not used within the space of 3 months (90 days). You are probably here because you have gone beyond this timeframe, and CellC disabled your SIM. So, what do you do after this? How do you reactivate your disabled Cell C number?
How to Reactivate a Cell C Number
We reached out to Cell C with this question and they told us that SIM cards and numbers that have been deactivated cannot be reactivated. So, if your SIM has been deactivated, you are out of luck.
We are not saying that’s the end of the story. You can reach out to Cell C and hear what they have to say. Some people have been able to get their numbers reactivated.
However, that can only happen if that number has not already been allocated to somebody else. If the number is gone, then it’s gone for good.
What happens to deactivated numbers?
We have already given the answer to this question. SIM cards that are not used on Cell C within 90 days are deactivated and allocated to other people. That’s one of the reasons why it’s futile to learn how to reactivate a Cell C SIM or number.
As noted earlier, it’s pointless if that number has already been allocated to somebody else. On the other side, we wouldn’t want to be the ones to receive numbers that were previously used by other people.
We have come across many reports of people who say they have been receiving calls and messages that were directed at previous owners of their numbers. So, that can be a downer. You want your CellC SIM to be yours alone when you buy it. Getting somebody’s else number is not the best.
How to Reactivate a Cell C SIM: Why does Cell C deactivate numbers in the first place?
That’s how to reactivate a Cell C SIM or number. But why does the network deactivate unused SIMs? Well, the practice is common in South Africa. Most of the networks do it. Numbers on Cell C are deactivated if they haven’t been used in a way that generates revenue for the company within the specified period.
That includes making calls, sending messages and other activities. So, you are forced to top up and use your airtime within the specified period, which is controversial. You don’t even get notification that your number is about to be deactivated.
But why are numbers reallocated? Is there a shortage of numbers in South Africa? It’s probably has to do with wanting to maintain a limited set of numbers. We once read somewhere that the numbers available for each network are limitless and can be expanded by adding a single number.
Well, that may be true, but before all that happens, a more efficient system would be to reallocate numbers that are not being used. That’s what the networks do. As already noted, it’s not very nice from the point of view of the recipient of the number, but hey. It happens.
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