Avoiding Subscriber Identity Module Invalidation

A user equipment device (UE), comprising:

• a radio;
• and
• a processor operably connected to the radio and configured to cause the UE to:
• detect a first wireless network;
• initiate a first subscriber identity module (SIM);
• initiate, using the first SIM, a connection with the first wireless network;
• receive, from the first wireless network, a SIM invalidating connection rejection;
• and
• selectively determine, in response to the SIM invalidating connection rejection, whether to invalidate the first SIM.

A method for operating a user equipment device (UE), the method comprising:

• at the UE:
• performing a search for coverage;
• determining that no equivalent home network or preferred network is available;
• attempting to access a first network using a first subscriber identity module (SIM);
• receiving, from the first network, a connection rejection;
• determining a type of the connection rejection;
• and
• determining, based on the type of the connection rejection:
• whether to block the first network;
• and
• whether to continue using the first SIM.