Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that provides a first message to a communication device that includes a temporary international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to be provisioned onto the device. A first registration message is sent to a registration function server, wherein the server includes a registry, wherein the first registration message indicates to the server to add the temporary IMSI to the registry. A second registration message is sent to the server in response to detecting expiration of a limited time period, wherein the second registration message indicates to the server to remove the temporary IMSI from the registry. A second message is provided to the wireless communication device that indicates to the wireless communication device the expiration of the limited time period, and that the temporary IMSI is removed from the registry of the registration function server. Other embodiments are disclosed.