Not just locally on the device! There must be an error when calling or texting the number.
Data must work for internet for Signal, VoIP, etc.
This is for a UK PAYG SIM.
There should be no way for anyone to demand my number, or for me to leak it, or doing so should be irrelevant as it does not work.
So you are asking if this can be done? Some providers have data only Sims like what you get in a hotspot, or you could turn on do not disturb.
They don’t come with any phone number?
They do, at least where i live (not UK, but still Europe)
The one I had in my hotspot did not have a phone number attached. It was provisioned by the IMSI. This plan was cheaper than using my phone as a hotspot. I assumed that there was no phone number so you couldn’t game the system by getting this cheaper deal and popping the Sim into a phone.
I think they still have an associated number, just that it can’t be used for voice or sms (it may have changed, but the number was effectively the equivalent of an IP address in the telco system - it’s what all the switching relies on to route). They probably just don’t provision voice or sms for it.