topic Re: Old Orange number reactivation? in SIM cards & Porting

Old Orange number reactivation?

dorsetbriel94 — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:57:19 GMT

Hi,

I'd like to preface this question by saying that I'm sure it's not possible, but I thought it might be worth asking 😅

I don't suppose there would be any way to reactivate an old mobile number that I had as a teenager with Orange, would there?, this would have been circa 2007/8/9.

It's just; I've these 11 numbers seared into my brain - and I wouldn't mind having the use of the number again lol.

I've tried calling the number and it's not in use.

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 02:03:53 GMT

No, @dorsetbriel94 , it's not possible. Once you've relinquished a no. it's no longer available to you.

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

dorsetbriel94 — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 02:06:46 GMT

I gathered as much.

So does that mean the number will never be in service ever again? Or is the potential someone might be issued it in the future do you think?

Purely because (as it's a number I know off by heart), I use it on forms sometimes that require a phone number that I don't want to provide my current - so I don't get spam lol

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 02:09:56 GMT

Probably not as it's in a defunct Orange pool of nos.

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

dorsetbriel94 — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 02:11:26 GMT

Hopefully some unlucky person in the future won't be issued the number in that case; I used it a few hours ago doing a car insurance quote 😂

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 02:13:49 GMT

You can easily make up nos. for that purpose, e.g. 07700000000.

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

bristolian — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 07:24:08 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:

Probably not as it's in a defunct Orange pool of nos.

All of the OUK number pool was reallocated to a combined BT/EE number pool and the quarantine/recycle process applies to them as much as any other prefix.

07973 is now listed against EE on most databases, but was one of the original Orange prefixes alongside 07976.

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

Metzger — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:24:46 GMT

No one seems to reply with a reason. I’m in same boat. Left the country 10 years ago, but want my old number back. It’s still dead. Surely it must be easy to do or (if applicable) locate the un-activated issued simcard 😔

Re: Old Orange number reactivation?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:29:46 GMT

@Metzger : You could try asking CS for it.