A Guide to Broadband Without Phones

In other guides of our Broadband Freedom Guide, we looked at how and why you should get cheap, flexible, no-contract broadband. This guide will cover how you can add even more flexibility to broadband. Let’s jump into how you can get your hands on broadband without a phone line.

Do I need a phone line for broadband?

There are four ways to access broadband in the UK. There’s 4G and 5G, ADSL (broadband connections that work entirely through copper wires), FTTC or FTTP fibre-optics (see our 5G guide for the difference between the last two if you haven’t done so already) and Virgin Media’s cable network.

Which of these are available to you depends on the infrastructure of your local area and even the property you live in or your business premises. It’s true that many Brits are stuck with outdated broadband infrastructure. But where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Can I give up a landline for 4G or 5G broadband?

The short answer is…yes. The majority of UK households have access to 4G networks. Plus, with the 5G rollout steaming ahead in over 300 UK towns and cities, improved mobile communications capable of reaching speeds faster than some fixed internet services are becoming increasingly widespread.

Whether you want to do this is completely your choice. Whether we’d recommend it? Well…the short answer is no. You see, it all comes down to what’s available in your area. If there’s a strong mobile broadband connection (preferably 5G) near your house then, by all means, you could enjoy download speeds of up to 200Mbps. You may see average speeds of 24Mbps with 4G.  

Most of us live in areas where connections are average at best. Some are even unfortunate enough to live in areas dubbed “not-spots”. Check out this map to see whether 4G or 5G are good stand-ins for fixed broadband in your area.

If you happen to live in a hot-spot area it might be prudent to consider how you will use mobile broadband. Some contract plans have a set limited number of devices that you’re allowed to tether. Additionally, using your phone as a hotspot drains the battery. Not ideal if you need to be on the go! You could always buy a mobile broadband device to alleviate battery drain, but 4G and 5G hubs are very pricey!

Can I get ADSL without a phone line?

To access the internet with ADSL you need a phone line. Now, this doesn’t mean you need a phone service. Basically, you can have internet broadband without needing a house phone connected. This might suit you well depending on how often you use the internet. What you do on it requires different bandwidths.

ADSL is slower than fibre broadband. The reason for this is because of the technology. It depends entirely on copper wires to transfer data. Many industry experts predict the death of the landline in years to come. ADSL may not be the best choice for you if you want fast broadband capable of serving multiple devices. 

According to ISPreview, Which? conducted a survey to see why 59% of UK households still had outdated ADSL connections. Among the reasons listed, one was being trapped in long term contracts with their ISP. As we recently explored in our previous guide post, long term contracts, just like ADSL copper reliant connections, are becoming a thing of the past. Or at least, losing momentum as customers see alternatives propping up in the market.

However, unlike other providers, we offer a no-contract option for our ADSL broadband, which is the perfect solution if you have a rental property.

So, can I get no-contract broadband without a phone line?

Let’s explore FTTC and FTTP, the two main ways people get access to broadband. You can get FTTC no contract fibre broadband but you will need a phone line. Again, like ADSL, this doesn’t mean you need to have an active house phone in your home.

The reason why you need a landline with FTTC is due to the last leg of the cable’s journey. Data is transferred from the local cabinet and to your property via copper cables. FTTC is a lot faster than ADSL on account of the fibre optic cables running into the cabinets. Still, it means you will need to pay for the phone line which is unavoidable, especially if you don’t plan to have a house phone connected.

More people have access to fibre optic broadband through FTTC rather than Fibre to the Property (FTTP). The good news is FTTP has gradually increased over the past couple of years and is set to rapidly grow with a £12bn roll-out plan in 27 new locations across the country. There’s no need for a phone line with FTTP. This is because fibre optic cables connect directly to your home without the need of using cabinets as a means of distribution of the broadband network.  

So, the answer is yes! Of course, you can get no-contract broadband. Click here for more details. 

Is Virgin Media worth it?

If you’re looking for broadband deals that include fixed internet connections without the need for a landline, Virgin Media might be right for you. However, if you want cheap, flexible, no-contract broadband without landlines, Broadband Freedom is definitely your go-to!

After all, we believe it’s freedom of choice that makes customers feel valued. When conducting our research for this guide, we found that all the leading searches related to Virgin Media held poor reviews. Problems varied from bad performance, connection issues and restrictive contracts.

Another thing to consider, should you choose Virgin Media, is the price. Virgin Media broadband packages without landlines are way more expensive than landline broadband packages. In the end, it’s more financially viable to just keep paying for a landline that you don’t necessarily need.

At Broadband Freedom we don’t believe in forcing our customers into a compromise. We lay out all the facts and do the research to help you get the best deal that works for you. If our checker says your speed isn’t quite up to scratch, we’re still on board to assist you in getting the best available broadband by keeping you updated on the latest news in the industry. We even mention other companies that we think put their customers first based on our own comparisons!

Sign up to our emailing list for further updates on your guide to Broadband Freedom.