How to get broadband without a phone line

What is a phone line and why does broadband require one?

In very simple terms, a phone line is a copper cable that connects your address to a street cabinet. This allows you to have not only a home phone but also an internet connection.

Most broadband providers in the UK use these copper cables to provide broadband. This infrastructure belongs to BT. The only big broadband provider that doesn't use this infrastructure is Virgin Media. 

This is because Virgin Media has its own cable network with a different type of cable. If you want to understand more about the difference between these cables, read this article. There we explain how fibre broadband works.

Can I get broadband without a phone line? 

Yes, you can get broadband without a phone line. The only problem is that you are limited to some providers. Virgin Media is the biggest broadband provider and most well-known to offer broadband without a phone line. 

If you want broadband without a phone line, the first place to look is with Virgin Media. We have talked more about how to save money on Virgin Media here. 

Should I get broadband without a phone line?

It depends on what you need and want. If you don’t need a home phone, you can get broadband without a phone line. 

If you need a home phone, then it’s better to get broadband with a phone line. This way you will save more money. In some cases, you can get a home phone with free calls with your broadband plan. 

You also need to take into consideration what the best broadband deal is for you.  Maybe you will realise that you want one from Virgin Media, for example. Or you will realise that you prefer broadband with a phone line from another provider. Read this article to learn how to get the best broadband deal for you. 

Understand what line rentals, phone lines and phone packages are: 

These terms can be a bit confusing, so if you want to make them clear for you, check their meanings below: 

• Line rental: Usually when you get a broadband deal that requires a phone line, you will need to pay a fixed monthly fee to rent this line. This will allow you to receive an internet connection. For most broadband deals, you get this for free, and it's included in your deal. Sometimes, after a period of time, this can start to be charged. 
• Phone line: A phone line is a cable that connects a street cabinet to your address. This makes it possible for you to make phone calls at home and to have an internet connection. In the UK, BT has full control over the infrastructure of phone lines. If you are not with Virgin Media, the structure you are using is from BT. 
• Phone packages: Most broadband providers that require a phone line sell phone packages as well. As mentioned above, you can get these for free or for a reasonable price. This will vary depending on the broadband provider of your choice. You can check our article on how to save on BT and how to save on Sky to see its available phone packaging options. 

What broadband can I get without a phone line?

The only broadband you can get without a phone line is with Virgin Media. This is the largest service available for home addresses across the UK. You can still get broadband without a phone line from other providers, such as Hyperoptic, but its services are much more restricted. 

How much will Virgin Media broadband without a phone line cost you?

To see everything that Virgin Media has to offer, we have created a full guide on how to save on Virgin Media. There you can find all broadband plans available at the moment. 

Can I get broadband without a phone line with providers such as BT and Sky?

Unfortunately, you can’t. As mentioned before, all the big broadband providers, including BT and Sky, use copper cables to provide broadband. What you can do is to not have a home phone, you can then use the phone line only for receiving your internet connection. This won’t cost you anything extra. 

How do I get broadband without a line rental? Step by Step 

Virgin Media, Hyeroptic and Giganet broadband are the only services with which you do not need line rental. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting Virgin Media:

Step 1: Check what is available at your address 

You can access Virgin Media’s home page and insert your postcode. Then you will have access to all the broadband plans that are available in your area. 

Step 2: Select the best broadband plan for you 

Depending on what type of internet user you are, select the best broadband plan for you. You also need to keep in mind what your budget is and for how long the contract is for. Put everything on paper and analyse which plan has the best cost and benefit. 

Step 3: Call Virgin Media first to ask any questions and see what you can get for free 

Before signing up for a new deal online, we recommend you call your future new broadband provider. This gives you lots of opportunities. You can ask any questions to avoid problems in the future. You can try to haggle as a new customer and get something for free, and you can immediately check its customer service quality. 

Step 4: Sign up for your new broadband service 

After your call, you can sign up for your new broadband service. You can usually do that online. Always look for discount vouchers. You can use Virgin Media’s Latest Deals to research some of the offers and deals you get today. You will receive your contract with your confirmation email. Make sure you keep both safe as you need this in the future. 

Step 5: Wait for the installation period to get installed 

The installation period can take up to 10 working days. After that, you will have your Virgin Media broadband connection running! 

Advantages and disadvantages of getting broadband without a phone line 

The best way to know if you should get broadband without a phone line is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. 

Advantages of getting broadband without a phone line 

• You get a more modern type of broadband service. 
• Broadband without a phone line provided by Virgin Media is more reliable. Copper cables were designed for transmitting voice signals and not internet data. This is why they are less reliable. Virgin Media uses coaxial cables, which were designed for transmitting data. 
• You won’t ever need to pay for a line rental. 

Disadvantages of getting broadband without a phone line 

• You might need an engineer to visit to get you connected to Virgin Media’s network. It’s not common to have its cables largely available inside properties. This will probably cost you around £50. 
• If you want to have a home phone, you will need to get it separately and this will probably cost you more. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: These advantages and disadvantages are considering Virgin Media’s fibre broadband. We will talk about other types of broadband without a phone line below. You can also see the pros and cons of mobile broadband and satellite broadband. 

Hyperoptic broadband: another broadband without a phone line provider 

Hyperoptic is another broadband provider. With them, you can also get broadband without a phone line. The difference is that its service is less available than the one provided by Virgin Media. You can check here if Hyperoptic is available in your area. Hyperoptic is highly available in central London at the moment, so if you live in this area, you might get a deal with them. 

Giganet broadband: another broadband without a phone line provider 

In some cases, broadband plans without a phone line can be much quicker than broadband plans that require a phone line. This is the case with Giganet. The company specialises in offering uber-fast broadband. You can get up to 1Gbps with them. Likewise Hyperoptic, its service is much less available than the one provided by Virgin Media. You can check here if Giganet is available in your area. 

Using mobile broadband instead of home broadband as an alternative

If you are not happy with what Virgin Media has to offer, you can use mobile broadband as an alternative. You need to keep in mind that mobile broadband was created to be used on the go and not as home broadband.  As a result, you might face some problems such as low speeds and instability. 

The Pros and Cons of getting a mobile broadband

Pros

• You can easily access it no matter where you are. 
• You can pay monthly and without a contract which gives you the flexibility to cancel anytime. 

Cons 

• You will pay more for mobile broadband. 
• The speeds can be lower than regular broadband. 
• You will deal with more inconsistency in the service. 
• While regular broadband comes with unlimited data, there might be restrictions on your data usage. 

Using satellite broadband instead of home broadband as an alternative

If you don’t like what Virgin Media has to offer, and you are not happy with using mobile broadband, you can try satellite broadband. You also need to keep in mind that satellite broadband is only a viable option when you can’t get anything else. This was developed mainly for rural areas where the cables don’t arrive. You also might face some problems such as low speeds and instability. 

The Pros and cons of getting a satellite broadband

Pros

• You will be able to have an internet connection even in the most remote areas. 

Cons 

• You will pay more for satellite broadband. 
• The speeds can be lower than regular broadband. 
• You will deal with more inconsistency in the service. 
• While regular broadband comes with unlimited data, there might be restrictions on your data usage. 

VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol - your phone on the internet

Another solution if you want a home phone but don't want to get a broadband connection with a phone line is to get VoIP service. This service will allow you to make and receive calls using the internet. At the moment, this is pretty new for residential customers, but very commonly used by businesses. One of the biggest VoIP providers in the UK is RingCentral, some plans start at only £7.99 per month. 

Summary: Is it worth getting broadband without a phone line?

In summary, the decision about getting broadband without a phone line is entirely up to you and what is available to you. 

Today you can get really fast internet speeds with broadband packages that require or not a phone line. Phone lines are widely available around the UK and you will be able to find a good deal, which doesn't mean that you must have a home phone. 

Also, Virgin Media is growing into more areas, and you can potentially get a deal with it depending on where you live.