New phone not showing Vodafone network

[Luna2020]

Just set up my new phone today. Received email to say my old number from BT mobile  will be ported tmrw. All apps and everything are downloading okay but there is no network showing. Is this normal.. how long should it take for the network to show? 

[AnnS]

The number won't be ported until tomorrow @Luna2020 

See here: What happens on the day my number moves to Vodafone? 

[Luna2020]

But should I still not have Vodafone reception/ network showing on the new phone despite the number not porting until tmrw? 

[AnnS · Accepted solution]

No, the number won't be ported until tomorrow and the SIM will activate when the number is on the network.

The SIM won't display the network until it activates tomorrow's @Luna2020 

[Luna2020]

Ok thank you. Sorry , I should’ve mentioned there was a sim that came with it, which I put in …should this have shown the network  with it? 

[Effie]

As @AnnS advised, the SIM will not activate until your number is moved over to our network @Luna2020 Once the port over is complete, the SIM you have with your old provider will stop working and the new Vodafone one, will switch on.