What is broadband without a landline?
Broadband without a landline gives you access to the internet without having a home phone connection as part of the package.
Traditionally, you needed an active phone line to get a home broadband package in the UK. But it’s now possible to get broadband without a phone line because of the gradual rollout of fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) services, better known as ‘full fibre’. These deliver broadband data straight to your home through fibre-optic cables rather than copper cables that connect to your landline.
Since many of us no longer use a home phone, the demand for broadband-only services is growing rapidly.
There are also other options for broadband without line rental, including 5G broadband, which uses a 5G mobile signal to wirelessly connect your devices to the internet.
Do I need a landline for broadband?
You might not need a landline to get home broadband, but this depends on where you live and the way the internet is delivered to your home.
Some broadband services still require a landline because your broadband and phone share the same network. If you have a fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) or ADSL connection, your broadband is delivered to your home via the old copper phone line network. If you’re using one of these connections, you’ll need to pay line rental.
However, there’s been a big shift from an analogue set-up to a digital infrastructure in recent years, which means there are now a lot more options for getting internet with no phone line.
With a broadband-only package, your home phone line will be disconnected if you no longer want a landline. But it means you won’t have to pay for line rental.
Did you know?
The ageing copper phone network may become obsolete in the next few years. In the move towards a digital future, BT’s Openreach network is planning to switch every home in the UK to an internet-based connection by the end of 2026. Traditional analogue landlines will eventually be phased out and replaced with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephone services.
Types of broadband with no landline
If you don’t want to pay line rental, these are the options available to you:
Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband – FTTP is a specific full fibre broadband service. It bypasses the old copper phone lines by using fibre-optic cabling all the way to your home so you don’t need a landline to use it. It offers the fastest speeds and is gigabit capable, meaning it can reach download speeds of at least 1,000 Mbps (megabits per second). As of January 2024, full fibre broadband was available to 62% of UK households.
5G home broadband – several mobile providers now offer broadband packages that use a 5G-enabled SIM card in a home router. You’ll need to live in an area with 5G capability to get this though.
Satellite broadband – as with satellite TV, you’ll need to install a satellite dish at your home to receive this. It could be an option for households in remote areas that are hard to reach with fibre cables. However, it might cost more than paying for broadband with line rental, plus coverage and speeds could be worse.
Mobile broadband (4G/5G) – this is an option provided you live in an area with very good mobile phone reception. Connectivity is through a USB dongle, wireless ‘cube’, data-only SIM or WiFi hotspot. Mobile broadband is a flexible way to get online without a landline but, for long-term use, a fixed connection is often preferable. We don’t currently offer comparisons between mobile broadband services.
To find out if you could get broadband for less than you’re currently paying and what your options are, use our postcode checker.
Advantages of a broadband package with no landline
A broadband-only plan is ideal if you just want the convenience of getting online as easily as possible. There’s no need to worry about line rental charges, extra calls or pay-as-you-go calls being added to your monthly bill.
With more providers offering no-landline broadband, you increasingly have more deals to choose from and can access some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK.
Disadvantages of a broadband package with no landline
The main downside to not having an active landline is limiting your communication options. You’ll need to rely on your mobile to make and receive calls, but this could leave you in limbo if your network goes down or you’re unable to charge your phone for any reason.
A landline might provide more reliability, particularly if you live in a rural area with poor mobile reception.
Is a broadband-only internet package cheaper?
A broadband-only deal could well be cheaper than a broadband and phone package, but it’s best to compare prices to make sure you’re getting value for money.
It used to be the case that bundling broadband and landline services together was often cheaper than just paying for broadband because of the faster speeds offered by full fibre. But times are changing and providers have realised that a lot of people no longer use their landline. So, they’re offering greater incentives to customers who are more likely to be attracted by broadband-only deals that are cheaper than bundling their internet with a phone package.
Remember, though, that the cheapest deal isn’t always the best. It’s important to make sure that the option you go for delivers the broadband speeds you need for your household.
Which providers offer fixed broadband without a phone line?
All the main providers of broadband in the UK now offer fixed broadband deals without the need to pay for line rental. They include:
Virgin Media
Virgin Media was the first major internet service provider to offer broadband without a phone line. It was able to do this because it operates its own cable network that’s independent of Openreach. Its Gigabit fibre broadband can deliver an average download speed of 1,130 Mbps, which is the fastest in the UK.
BT
BT offers broadband-only deals as standard across its fibre-optic packages, with average download speeds of up to 900 Mbps. You only use the broadband you want without paying for landline services.
Plusnet
Plusnet offers full fibre broadband that delivers ultrafast download speeds of up to 900 Mbps.
Sky
You can get broadband-only plans from Sky that deliver average download speeds of up to 900 Mbps.
TalkTalk
TalkTalk offers full fibre broadband plans that deliver average download speeds of up to 944 Mbps.
Other providers
Other full fibre networks, including Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Gigaclear, offer some of the fastest speeds in the country without the need for a phone line. But these deals are less widely available, so it’s important you check the availability for your area.
What bundles are available for broadband without a phone line?
Without a phone line, your options for broadband bundles tend to be more limited, but there are still deals out there.
Virgin Media, BT and Sky all offer broadband and TV packages with a range of internet speeds, allowing you to bundle your broadband together with a TV subscription in one convenient package. In some cases, you can also bundle a broadband and mobile package together.
Compare broadband with us
Whether you’re looking for broadband without line rental, a broadband-only package or broadband with TV or phone, we can help.
FAQs
Is broadband without a phone line the same as broadband only?
Most providers offer some type of ‘broadband-only’ deal. However, you’ll sometimes need to pay line rental, even if you don’t use their phone services.
Some mobile providers also offer broadband-only deals. But this option can often be more expensive than a fixed broadband service as mobile data typically costs more. If you exceed your mobile data limit, you could end up paying more for extra data. So, if you’re into Netflix and online gaming, a mobile broadband-only deal may not be the best solution for your needs.
Do broadband prices include line rental costs?
Yes, since October 2016 it’s been compulsory for broadband providers to include line rental in their headline costs. And at Compare the Market, as well as showing the monthly cost, we include an all-in 12/18/24-month total cost, depending on how long the contract runs. This includes line rental, as well as other ‘extras’ such as activation fees and other equipment charges.
What differences are there between a VoIP phone and a landline?
Once you move to a VoIP service, your landline phone will work in much the same way as it always has, but there are a few differences:
A digital VoIP phone will only work in a power cut if it has a battery back-up.
Some care alarms, security alarms and fax machines might not work or may need to be reconfigured when using a VoIP phone line.
Telecoms watchdog Ofcom says, ‘When you migrate to a VoIP service, your provider should tell you what you need to do if you have one of these devices. This will include informing your alarm provider so they can make the necessary changes or tell you if your alarm will work with your new VoIP service.’
With more than 10 years’ experience working with a wide range of digital brands, Matthew knows how to deliver great outcomes for customers. With the UK racing towards gigabit broadband speeds and our phones more powerful and integral to our modern lives, Matthew wants to make sure you have a great package that can keep up.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by AI. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
