Apple just announced a couple new ways to handle this, coming this fall.
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/08/ios-15-legacy-contacts/
Can't you port the number to something like Twilio or Google Voice in the event you need to get SMSes to it? Or get a new SIM card with the number and toss it in an old phone.
Like any backup plan, unless it’s regularly tested it should be presumed to not be working