Why can't I have a duplicate sim card

[Alan5353]

I have an old phone that I use when it's too risky to have my main phone with me.

To do this I have to swap over my sim each time.

Why can't I have a second sim with the same number ?

I only want to have one phone active at any one time so what is the problem with EE offering this service ? 

[Alan5353]

My phone is in a defender case that has helped it survive this long but if I dropped it of my boat or if it was stolen I would still lose data and contacts.

there are times you just don’t want to have all that with you.

EE (and the other providers) don’t seem interested in helping people keeping there data safe.

im searching the web at the moment to see if any overseas providers offer this service.

[Imran89]

One way around it is on the spare phone download WhatsApp, register your telephone number from the main phone to the spare phone. It will have limitations as in you won't receive calls via cellular, however you can call via mobile data via WhatsApp and atleast text. You will of course need data for the spare phone this can be with any network, but essentially your duplicating.

[Chris_B]

@Imran89  And everyone else will need to use what’s app.  And you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection all the time as you don’t know when someone will want to contact you.     So basically that doesn’t work.    

[Mariagav]

How come this is possible in Spain? It is needed if you have an iPhone and an iPad that supports SIM. Why should you have two numbers for the two devices?

[Mariagav]

In Spain you can have 2 SIMs for the same number. It is ridiculous that in UK is not possible.

[bristolian]

The Spanish operator you are thinking of, issues the additional SIM with a separate number to the primary SIM, and uses core-network data to make the second SIM behave as if it were sharing the primary number.

This comes with limitations as described earlier in the thread, and I think in this case it was lack of mobile data on the second SIM - although I don't have personal experience.

In any case, it is not technically possible to have multiple SIMs on the same number, and EE decided many years ago (along with VF) to remove their "Single Number" product.

[Mariagav]

Limitations or not, preferably to have an option even if limited than no option at all.