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No landline socket, no home phone you ever use, or no wish to pay for a service you don't need? You can still get broadband.
"Phone line" covers a few different things, which is why the answer can sound more complicated than it is. This guide explains the options in plain terms, including when a wireless router is the right answer and when a normal contract is better value.
Why broadband used to need a phone line
For years, most UK home broadband ran over the same copper cable as the landline. That usually meant paying for the phone service too, even if you never made a call.
That is changing. Newer broadband services can run without a landline calling service, and some don't use the copper phone network at all. So "broadband without a phone line" can mean two things: no landline service on your bill, or no cable into your home at all.
Your options for broadband without a phone line
Full fibre
Full fibre runs a fibre-optic cable all the way into your home, so it doesn't rely on a copper phone line. Where it is available it is fast and reliable, but it isn't available at every address yet, and a new connection may need an installation visit.
Broadband without a home phone service
Many providers now sell broadband without a landline number or calls package. The connection may still use the cable that already runs into your home, but you only pay for the internet. Ask for broadband only when you compare deals.
Cable broadband
Cable networks are separate from the traditional phone network and often sell broadband-only packages. Availability depends on whether your street is connected.
Wireless 4G or 5G broadband
A wireless home router uses a SIM and the mobile network, so it needs no phone line, no cable into the home and no engineer. You plug it into the mains, connect your devices to its WiFi and you are online.
It depends on mobile signal rather than a fixed line, so check coverage at your address first. The FlexiWiFi 5G Home Router falls back to 4G where 5G isn't available, connects up to 32 devices and has two Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired devices.
Which option suits you?
| Option | Line into the home | Engineer visit | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full fibre | Fibre cable | Often, for a new connection | Usually a fixed term |
| Broadband without a phone service | Existing cable | Sometimes | Usually a fixed term |
| Cable broadband | Cable network | Sometimes | Usually a fixed term |
| FlexiWiFi 5G Home Router | None | No | No contract |
When wireless broadband is the better choice
A wireless router makes most sense when:
- the property has no working phone line or fibre connection yet;
- you are waiting for a fixed installation date;
- you are renting short term and don't want a contract that outlasts the tenancy;
- you need to get online within days, not weeks; or
- you would rather not have an engineer visit at all.
If the gap is temporary, a temporary broadband rental covers it without tying you in.
When a fixed contract is better value
If you are settled at an address for the long term, a broadband-only contract is usually the cheapest way to get online each month. Compare broadband-only deals at your address before committing.
A fixed line can also suit very heavy use. Some online games, remote-access tools and services that need port forwarding can work differently on a mobile network, so check anything essential before choosing wireless broadband.
Check the mobile signal first
Wireless broadband is only as good as the signal where you live. Use Ofcom's mobile coverage checker to compare predicted 4G and 5G coverage at your exact address.
Indoor signal can differ from the map, so try the router near a window or higher up if the first spot is weak. FlexiWiFi also checks network coverage for your delivery postcode before dispatch and fits the SIM with the strongest signal.
No line, no contract
No contract. Rent it for as long as you need it. A temporary internet rental can cover a few weeks while you wait for fixed broadband, or longer if a contract doesn't suit you. Send it back when you're done. FlexiPromise refunds 50% of unused rental days, subject to a minimum 3 day rental charge.
Check the latest delivery and returns information before you book.
The short version
You don't need a landline to get broadband. For a long-term home, compare broadband-only contracts.
For no contract, no engineer and no line at all, a wireless router gets you online as soon as it's delivered to your door.
Useful to know
Frequently asked questions
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