published: 29th July 2026
can you get broadband without a landline?
According to a YouGov survey, 55% of households in Great Britain have a landline but over half of them don’t use ita. Many customers are waking up to the fact that they don’t need to pay for something they don’t use and are switching to simple broadband-only services without the added cost that they no longer need.
The benefits of going landline-free include removing landline rental charges, simplified billing, and potentially fewer cables throughout your home.
If you’re looking to get rid of your landline bill or moving into a property without one, there’s no need to worry. Broadband is still readily available, and you could soon be enjoying ultrafast speeds of up to 900 Mbps, often at a lower monthly cost.
why have some companies said a landline is needed for broadband?
If you’ve been told this by your current provider, or one you were looking to move to, it’s probably because the type of broadband they offer isn’t compatible without it. For example, some services still rely on older technology such as copper or co-axial cable networks which are directly linked to a traditional phone line. It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t leave your phone line behind, but it may mean you need to change provider to do so. This may seem daunting but One Touch Switch makes switching much easier as your new provider does all the talking with your existing provider – so no more haggling for you.
At toob, we provide full-fibre (FTTP – fibre to the premises) broadband, meaning the 100% fibre optic cable runs directly to your home. This modern setup delivers the best speeds and reliability, and importantly, doesn’t require a landline at all.
how can I get broadband without a landline?
You might be wondering why your current broadband provider says a landline is needed for broadband.
That’s probably because the type of broadband they offer isn’t compatible without it. For example, some services still rely on older technology such as copper or co-axial cable networks which are directly linked to a traditional phone line. It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t leave your phone line behind, but it may mean you need to change provider to do so. This may seem daunting but One Touch Switch makes switching much easier as your new provider does all the talking with your existing provider – so no more haggling for you!
At toob, we provide full-fibre (FTTP – fibre to the premises) broadband, meaning fibre runs directly to your home, compared to FTTC which is fibre to the cabinet then old cabling to your home. Full-fibre is the best option for speed and reliability, and, the best part, it doesn’t require a landline at all.
broadband options without a phoneline
In addition to full-fibre, or FTTP, there are other types of broadband without the need for a phone line, including cable and 5G.
Because full-fibre uses dedicated cables that transmit data as light, it can deliver symmetrical download and upload speeds with virtually no signal degradation over distance. In contrast, cable and 5G rely on shared networks or wireless signals, both of which can be prone to slowdowns, congestion and interference.
the difference between broadband and a landline
If you’re old enough to remember the days when your internet would cut out the moment someone picked up your home phone, like us, you’ll probably feel a bit nostalgic at how simpler those times were. Back then, broadband and landlines were closely connected, but things have moved on a lot since.
These days, your internet doesn’t need a phone line to work. In fact, this shift started in the UK around 8 years ago and really took off from 2020 onwards, as newer technologies became more widely available.
So, what’s actually different?
Broadband, specifically, full-fibre broadband, uses a 100% fibre optic cable that runs directly into your home. It’s a dedicated connection designed solely for internet, separate from any other cables or wires, to deliver faster and more reliable internet speeds.
Phone lines, or landlines, on the other hand, rely on traditional copper cables that were originally designed to only carry analogue voice calls and not keep up with the demands of modern life. That’s why phone lines are gradually being phased out, with the UK set to see an end to its copper service in 2027.
💡 Did you know? Some countries, like Romania, completely skipped over traditional technologies and moved straight to fibre infrastructure, making their broadband services exceptionally fast and competitively priced from the start. Something the rest of the world is only now catching up with as we move away from the outdated infrastructure.
how to switch
It’s time to choose unbundled broadband! If you’re familiar with your phone line, broadband and TV all being with the same provider, the idea of untangling your package and moving to a broadband-only plan can understandably be a bit daunting. But one of the biggest ways to save money is to unbundle your broadband. Particularly if you’re paying for something like a landline that you simply don’t need!
Switching to broadband without a phone line is very easy with One Touch Switch. We’ll handle the conversation with your existing broadband provider so that you don’t have to spend time waiting in a telephone queue and having to haggle with the person on the other end.
If you’re unbundling your broadband and want to keep your TV with your existing provider, you’ll need to call them and let them know which parts of your service you want to keep and which you want to remove.
At toob, we only offer broadband only packages but if you change your mind and decide that you do need a phone line, we partner with a VoIP provider – Phonely – who can help you secure a digital phone line that will work via your toob broadband internet connection. Contact the team at Phonely direct to find out more.
