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Preface

I had been thinking about getting an overseas SIM card for receiving verification codes for various services. Google Voice is great, with zero cost to maintain and keep the number, but since it is a VoIP number, many websites lock it out immediately.

Consequently, I turned my attention to GiffGaff, a UK MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) running on the O2 / Virgin Media O2 network. Applying for a physical card or eSIM is free, and the Pay as you go (PAYG) maintenance cost is extremely low in Mainland China.

Usage Process

Acquiring the Card

A few years ago, I applied multiple times on the official website but never received standard surface mail letters; the loss rate is almost 100%. In September, I applied again and still received nothing, so it was likely lost again. Recently, my friend studying in Australia came back for vacation, so I asked him to bring two back. I activated one today, and here are the details and precautions.

GiffGaff has temporarily suspended sending SIM cards to certain countries/regions, including Mainland China. For physical cards, you can buy them on domestic e-commerce platforms (usually 10-30 RMB each). Some hosting forums and Telegram groups also give them away for free. Regardless, please pay attention to protecting individual privacy and avoiding scams.

If you have a phone that supports eSIM, you can directly download the GiffGaff App to acquire a digital card. At any later stage, we can also convert a physical SIM card into an eSIM.

Activating the Card

Log in to the GiffGaff official website, click “Activate your SIM” to enter the activation process.

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Input the activation code found on the SIM packaging frame and click activate to proceed.

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Topping Up Balance

Prepare a Visa / Mastercard or similar foreign currency card. I am using the Bank of China Great Wall Cross-border Mastercard (BOC Monet Card).

Some debit cards hold different locked buffers for non-USD transactions. For example, my card holds a 102% rate for GBP transactions, so I need to purchase at least £10.20 instead of exactly £10; otherwise, the balance charge will top-up error out. After the initial charge with cards, PayPal becomes unlocked for subsequent buffers.

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The minimum top-up starts from £10. GiffGaff has currently suspended the free £5 top-up bonus promo.

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Fill in details, and completing the charge.

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The phone number displays starting with 07. To use it internationally, remove the leading 0 and prepend it with country code: +44 7xxx xxxxxx

Starting to Use

Insert SIM onto your phone to begin. For iPhone users: Disable FaceTime/iMessage initially to avoid auto-sending chargeable activation SMSs. Then select other valid SIMs specifically inside settings for FaceTime/iMessage triggers smoothly. Some legacy iPhone frames require applying updated IPC carrier profiles alongside tools like i4Tools before running correctly.

For Android, support for standard China Mobile/Unicom frequencies usually guarantees straight setups. Follow instructions on official docks to Configure APN Access Points:

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APN: giffgaff.com

Username: [Leave Empty]

Password: [Leave Empty]

Server: http://mmsc.mediamessaging.co.uk:8002

MMSC: http://mmsc.mediamessaging.co.uk:8002

Proxy: [Leave Empty]

MMS proxy: [Leave Empty]

MMS port: [Leave Empty]

MCC: 234

MNC: 10

Authentication type: [Leave Empty]

APN Type: mms

Disabling Voicemail

GiffGaff voicemail defaults to Enabled. Unanswered calls, power-cuts, or dead-zones trigger roaming charges on a per-minute scale. Disabling is highly recommended. Dial service numbers locally when in the UK; overseas nodes can Contact Support Agents for assistance with remote disabling.

Maintenance and Pricing

Maintenance policy is simple: Execute at least one chargeable event every 180 days: Top-up, Call out, Data usage, SMS out. Sending an SMS costs the least, and email alters go out preceding the 180-day buffers.

  • Calls: Call out / Receive at £1/min. First 30s fixes charging directly, subsequent metrics apply per second.
  • SMS: £0.30 per message outgoing, absolutely free incoming.

Resulting in £0.60/year fixated maintenance costs on sending two SMS triggers.

Free calls with other GiffGaff users? (Within the UK) Requires topping up or buying packages at least once every three months. Length cap sits around 60 mins—exceeding triggers regular fees unless hanging up and redialing before exceeding.

If configured with Wi-Fi Calling, pricing thresholds strictly mirrors UK Inland Metrics.

FAQs

  1. How long is the activation buffer on physical SIMs? Support says: “There is no strict deadline, feel free to activate whenever. We suggest doing it within a year safely.”
  2. Why am I charged hung-up calls? Manual hanging on roaming zones triggers buffer charges. Simply mute and wait out auto-terminations.
  3. Can it register WeChat? Yes, though highly sensitive to IP conditions resembling Read-Only filters sometimes.
  4. Can it register WhatsApp / TikTok? Yes, keep nodes strictly clean.