Have you ever wondered, after you spent a lot of time linking your phone number with NIN and the number it’s not active for a while, boom, you discover that someone else is already using the same number.
Most times, the number is linked with NIN, BVN, and your bank account and you are probably outside the country for studies and the telco has resold your number to another customer.
In some cases, the new owner of the number will begin to receive your bank alerts and subsequently, change your password on the bank and have access to your savings. This is happening on a regular basis as a lot of people are leaving the country.
In the recent time, I have read a lot of cases on Twitter that prompted me to come up with an idea of getting you all the information you need regarding keeping your number safe most especially keeping the money you left in your account safe and also keeping your identity away from theft on the major telecommunications companies like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile networks. Don’t forget the process you passed through to register the number. Your photo ID, photograph, biometrics, address, etc.
In this article, I will walk you through how you can keep your line forever on the telecommunications company’s service forever even if it is not active with a little amount of money on a monthly or annual basis.
MTN Keep My Number
The Keep My Number (KMN) is a special service from MTN that allows you retain your numbers in the event that you travel out of the country or stay inactive/dormant for more than 180days. All MTN Prepaid customers can subscribe for the MTN KMN service.
Benefits Of Subscribing To MTN Keep My Number
- Prevents your MTN number from being disconnected or re-cycled.
- It saves you the cost of reprinting business cards and updating websites when your number gets disconnected and recycled.
- You will have your number reserved irrespective of how long you stay out of the Country.
How To Activate MTN Keep My Number
- Recharge your account with sufficient airtime.
- Dial *365# or send an SMS with your preferred keyword to 36500.
- Once you subscribe for the service, a subscription fee will be deducted from your account.
- As soon as MTN confirms your payment, your number will then be kept in the KMN list depending on your subscription for 1 year, 2 years OR 3 years.
The table below shows KMN subscription types, activation codes and corresponding prices
| Subscription Type | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years |
| Price (N) | 511 | 819 | 1228 |
| Keyword (SMS to 36500) | KMN1 | KMN2 | KMN3 |
| (USSD) |
For example, to opt-in to MTN keep my number service, simply dial *365*3# or text KMN3 to 36500 for three-year subscription at N1228.
Simply dial *365*4# to opt out of the service.
Airtel Keep my number
According to the information available on the Airtel Nigeria website, you can only keep your number through international roaming.
Each telecommunication company has different ways to keep numbers of their network services for each country. So far, for Nigerian customers of Airtel, the only available service on Airtel has been seen on the website roaming.
If you are going to stay for a long time abroad, you might need to consider the option of roaming your airtel line before leaving the country. With roaming, you can continue to make use of your number anywhere you go around the world.
The convenience of roaming hinges on the fact that various countries in compliance with international GSM standards build mutually compatible networks. This enables foreign subscribers to connect to and use a foreign network while traveling, i.e. to “roam” in a given country. While roaming, you can use your SIM the same way you would at home, you can be reached at your regular number when you are abroad.
For this to happen, the two countries must sign a unilateral or bilateral roaming agreement. Airtel Nigeria maintains such agreements with over 527operators in more than 190 countries, ensuring that you remain in touch with families, friends, business associates, and they are with you wherever you are, a statement on the company website said.
You can visit the Airtel Nigeria website on how to roam your SIM.
Glo keep my number
You can keep your number on Gloword network with the service called ALWAYS ON.
What is ALWAYS ON?
Glo ALWAYS ON is a prepaid subscription offer that allows customers to retain their phone numbers for one full year (365 days) irrespective of whether they have used their lines or not. With Glo ALWAYS ON, you do not need to worry about your line getting suspended or disconnected even if you have not made calls, or used data or SMS.
What benefits do I enjoy with ALWAYS ON?
a) Your line will be retained on the Glo network for 365 days guaranteed, no matter what. This means that your line will not be suspended, disconnected or de-activated for one full year even if you do not make/receive calls, text or browse for the entire period.
b) You can make/receive calls at any time during the 365 days so long as you have sufficient airtime balance in your account. There is no need to visit any Gloworld or to contact customer care for your line to be reactivated.
c) You enjoy an amazing tariff of 12k/sec flat to call ALL networks; no hidden charges, no daily subscription charges!
You still pay normal tariffs for using SMS and PAYGO data that is:
• National SMS (all-networks): N4/message
• International SMS: N35/message
• Pay-as-you-go data browsing: N1/MB (you may also dial *777# to buy a data plan of choice).
• International calls are charged at normal rate applicable to the called destination
How do I subscribe to Glo ALWAYS ON?
Simply dial *777# and select ALWAYS ON from the menu. Upon your confirmation, a one-time fee of N500 will be deducted from your main account after which you will be subscribed to the plan.
How do I renew my ALWAYS ON Subscription?
Ensure you have a minimum of N500 airtime balance in your main account. Dial *777# and select ALWAYS ON from the menu. Upon your confirmation, a one-time fee of N500 will be deducted from your main account balance.
Is Glo ALWAYS ON plan a promotional offer? happens at the Expiration of my ALWAYS ON subscription?
No, ALWAYS ON is not a promotional offer. It is a standard Subscription offer from Glo.
Should you require more information regarding Glo ALWAYS ON, please visit any Gloworld outlet or contact our Customer Care by dialing 121 from a Glo line or +2348050020121 from any other line.
9moble keep my number
Are traveling internationally for an extended period of time?
Keep your number active for a longer period when inactive.
Service is available to both new and existing prepaid and post-paid 9mobile subscribers.
The service is not available y default, subscribers must opt-in to use the service.
Subscribers will be notified upon successful activation of the service.
The extended duration will be added to the current validity of the subscriber at the time of activation.
Subscribers can only opt-in to the service once within a given period of 12 months.
Service costs N500 yearly.
To opt-in to the service, simply dial *539*1# or send 1 to 539
To know your status, simply dial *639#.
