BB Bold 9700 :: Frozen On Start Up With New Sim Card

I tried searching similar topics but could not find relevant ones. everyone seems to have no issue with swapping out sim cards on their bolds. If there is a thread already open, i do apologize. I'm really frustrated and really need my blackberry to be up and running.

I have a Bold 9700, updated to the latest OS, everything works fine. I recently had some issues with my old sim card so I went to my service provider to change it to a new one (same number, same line, same contract, just a new sim card).

As is expected I was told that when my old sim is deactivated, simply insert my new one and I can use my phone as per normal.

However, when I did this, the phone was stuck at the loading screen (the entire bar is white) for eternity (maybe 5 minutes or so) before proceeding to the homescreen. There is no "verifying security" load bar, the phone is entirely frozen, no buttons work, the touch pad does not work, it shows 3G on the top right without the blackberry sign, there is no service provider name, and once in a while the small clock loading logo appears.

I pulled the battery a couple of times and the problem persists. I called the service provider to reactivate the new sim card, they did it 3 times, same problem. I inserted the sim card into other non-blackberry phones i have and it works on all other phones. When I put back my old deactivated sim card into the 9700, the phone starts up fine within 2 - 3 minutes, "verifying security" bar as per normal, everything moves, just no service connection. When i turn on the phone without a sim card it starts up fine as well with a message at the top saying insert sim card.

I even went down to the blackberry technical service department of my service provider and they were of no help. all they could say was "we have to wipe your phone and reload the software" which I am trying to avoid and I can do myself anyways.

My phone is unlocked, comes unlocked here in singapore, I even checked using the "MEPD" method, all disabled.

This has been very frustrating, especially when I need my blackberry for work. What is wrong with my phone? How can the simple replacement of a sim card be so difficult on a blackberry when it is problem free for ANY other phone I have ever used? I am now dreading when I have to travel abroad for business and require a foreign sim card.