If you don't use a home phone, consider switching to broadband without a landline.
With the advance of fibre technology, the need for connected broadband and landline services is disappearing.
So, what’s available when it comes to broadband without landline?
Compare broadband without landline deals alongside those which include a home phone to see if you could save money on your internet bill.
A landline is a phone connection that uses a physical wire – usually copper – for transmission. It is often referred to as a home phone or phone line.
The copper wire connects your home to the cabinet in your street, which in turn connects to the nearest telephone exchange. The line rental we pay for our landline phone covers this connection and your space at the telephone exchange.
Openreach, a subsidiary of BT, manages the UK’s copper line network.
You’ll need a landline if you have or want Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband, or if you want to make fixed line phone calls.
Depending on the provider you’re with and the package you’ve chosen, you might be required to have a landline for your broadband to work.
This is because some providers use phone lines to deliver internet into people’s homes.
However, you don't need an active landline phone to use the internet.
Some providers automatically sign you up to broadband with a free landline, but it’s your choice whether or not you use it.
Other providers let you choose if you want a landline when you sign up. This is often the case for non-Openreach networks, which do not require your home internet to be delivered through a phone line.
You might assume that it’s cheaper to buy broadband that doesn’t require a landline. But this isn’t always true.
Broadband by itself sometimes works out cheaper than if you have a landline included.
But equally, some providers offer landline and home phone deals that are cheaper than getting broadband on its own.
The prices vary because FTTP and cable broadband is more expensive than ADSL or FTTC broadband. So, while you might save cash by not paying for a landline you don’t use, this may be countered by the fact you’ll be paying more for your broadband package.
Compare broadband bundles when choosing whether to get broadband without a landline.
As broadband technology moves away from copper wiring, more providers are offering broadband only deals without need of a landline.
Broadband without landline tends to come under three categories:
Fibre optic broadband is one of the most popular broadband options.
According to Ofcom[1], 15.4 million households now have access to full fibre services. That works out as over half (52%) of UK homes.
It works by running fibre optic cables directly from the local telephone exchange right into your home. You do not need copper wiring from a phone line to enable the connection.
Because fibre optic cables can carry more online data than copper wiring, they’re usually a lot faster.
Because full fibre can deliver internet speeds up to 1Gbps (or 1,000Mbps), it might be a good idea to have fibre broadband in your home.
If you want broadband without landline and no complex contract tie-ins, mobile broadband could be the answer.
While today’s 4G and 5G signals help give you access to the internet on the go, there are still parts of the UK with poor mobile signal.
If you live in a so-called ‘not-spot’, then mobile broadband probably is not the right option.
Still, if you like the look of mobile broadband, consider these providers:
Satellite broadband is also an option if you want broadband without a landline.
Delivered through a satellite dish, it’s useful if you live in a remote area where reception is poor.
But satellite broadband is usually more expensive than a standard phone line connection.
Also, with satellite broadband, signal does sometimes dip during periods of poor weather, which can be disruptive.
Despite many networks switching to fibre optic broadband, a lot of them still tend to bundle landlines and broadband together.
However, broadband without landline packages are available and you can compare providers that offer these types of services.
Some providers currently offering broadband without a landline include:
Virgin Media now has its own Cable network, making it fully independent of Openreach.
Moving from ADSL to fully fibre optic, Virgin can deliver consistent internet speeds over 100Mbps on their lowest tariff, all without need of a landline.
Compare Virgin Media broadband deals.
Despite controlling the Openreach network, BT has followed other broadband providers when it comes to full fibre technology, and now offers several packages without needing a landline.
It also allows you to customise your deal, so if you do not want a home phone, you can still get a digital TV package or other extras.
Hyperoptic offers exclusively full fibre plans if you do not want a phone line installed for your broadband.
It’s also rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot[2] , with over 86% of customers rating their experience as five stars.
Compare Hyperoptic broadband deals.
Gigaclear began with the aim of improving rural broadband for remote areas. It’s been using full fibre technology for some time.
Although you can pay for a home phone as an add-on, it’s not compulsory.
Compare Gigaclear broadband deals.
These might include:
Some smaller full fibre providers might not service where you live, so check to see if you can get broadband without a landline in your area .
For broadband without landline, you’ll need access to either:
Currently, these are the only fixed-line services that deliver broadband to homes without needing any phone lines.
Most broadband without landline services still require a visit from an engineer to make sure it’s set up correctly and check that the connection is working properly.
You should see an improvement in your broadband connectivity, and you might even be using a brand new broadband router if your provider requires you to upgrade.
Unfortunately, there are no lines without line rental, whether you’ve got a phone connected at the other end or not.
If you’re hoping that broadband without landline means not paying for line rental, you’ll be disappointed.
The only way to avoid paying line rental is to opt for mobile or satellite broadband. These types of services usually work out more expensive than a standard connection anyway, and do not always provide the signal you need.
Even with the UK transition from analogue to digital landline services, broadband without a landline only works if you do not use your landline very often.
Also, while it might be cheaper at the start to switch broadband providers and join a landline-free tariff, you will not have the added convenience of a home phone. This could be invaluable during an emergency.
The advantages of having a landline include:
The disadvantages of having a landline include:
Lots of trusted broadband providers have begun offering no-landline deals.
Although their coverage might not be as extensive as alt-net companies, who have gone down the no-landline route from day one, you can still get broadband without landline from the likes of:
[2] Data correct as of 17 April 2024