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Broadband without a landline: compare the connection and the cost

Understand full fibre, cable and mobile broadband options, then compare contract costs and the practical checks that matter at your address.

The useful answer

You can get broadband without a traditional home-phone service through options such as full fibre, cable or mobile broadband, depending on your address. Check the connection type and package terms, then compare the whole contract cost. No phone service does not necessarily mean no physical cable or a cheaper package.

What to know

  • Check availability at the exact address before comparing headline deals.
  • A full-fibre connection, a cable package and a 5G router solve the connection differently.
  • Add installation, scheduled price changes and exit fees to the cost comparison.

Be clear about what you want to remove.

“No landline” can mean you do not want a home-phone number, you do not want a call plan, or you do not want a wire entering the property. Those are different requirements. A wired broadband-only package can remove the phone service while still using a physical connection.

Tell the provider which requirement matters. If somebody relies on a home-phone number, a telecare device or an alarm connection, ask how that service would be affected before changing the package.

Choose from the connections available to you.

Full fibre brings fibre to the premises. Cable services use their own network connection. Mobile broadband uses a wireless signal, often through a home router. Ofcom’s broadband guide explains these options and provides an address checker.

The best shortlist starts with your location and routine. A person on frequent video calls may prioritise consistency; a short-term tenant may prioritise flexibility. A faster headline speed does not compensate for a contract that does not fit the move-out date.

Questions for your shortlist
OptionQuestion to resolve
Full fibre or cableIs it available at this address, and is installation needed?
4G or 5G home broadbandHow does the connection perform inside this property at busy times?
Short or rolling contractWhat extra monthly or upfront cost buys the flexibility?
Broadband-only bundleDoes removing the phone change the overall discount or other services?

Use the whole period to compare prices.

Write down each monthly price period, the number of months it applies, and every unavoidable setup cost. Add any cost of leaving the current contract. Keep optional extras separate so the comparison is about the same service.

A rolling contract is a flexibility choice, not automatically the cheapest choice. Compare the period you realistically need, especially if you expect to move.

Confirm the handover before cancelling anything.

For an eligible broadband switch, Ofcom explains that the new provider manages One Touch Switch and the old provider supplies important information about the change. Read that information, including charges, and confirm what happens to any linked services.

Record the expected activation date, equipment requirements and any router return. Check a provider-supplied email address or TV bundle separately. Once the new connection works, verify that billing for the old service has ended as expected.

Sources & further reading

Examples are illustrative unless stated otherwise.

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