Broadband Without a Phone Line UK 2026: Your Full Options

Yes — you can get broadband without a phone line in the UK. Full fibre (FTTP) broadband, Virgin Media cable, and 5G home broadband all work without a traditional copper telephone line. As of 2026, the majority of new broadband contracts no longer require a landline.

Why you used to need a phone line for broadband

Standard ADSL and FTTC (part-fibre) broadband both used the copper telephone wire between the street cabinet and your home to carry the internet signal. This meant a BT phone line was technically required — and line rental was billed separately, typically adding £10–£20/month to the cost.

That era is ending. As the UK's Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is switched off — a process BT is completing by the end of 2027 — all providers are migrating customers to broadband-only connections. Line rental as a concept is being phased out entirely.

Which providers offer broadband without a phone line?

Full fibre (FTTP) broadband without a landline

Full fibre broadband uses optical fibre cable all the way from the exchange directly into your home. There is no copper wire in the connection at any point. This means it does not depend on — or need — a telephone line. FTTP is available from every major UK provider including BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Plusnet via the Openreach network, plus alt-nets like Hyperoptic and Community Fibre on their own infrastructure.

As of Spring 2026, 89% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable network. Check availability at your address using our postcode checker.

Virgin Media cable broadband

Virgin Media has never used the traditional copper phone network. Its broadband is delivered via its own coaxial cable infrastructure, which reaches approximately 53% of UK premises. Virgin Media broadband has never required a landline — it is a pure broadband service, with phone calls available as an optional add-on using Voice over IP (VoIP). Speeds start from 132 Mbps and go up to 1.1 Gbps.

5G home broadband — no line at all

5G home broadband uses a mobile 5G signal rather than any fixed line connection. A 5G router is delivered to your home — it connects to the mobile network and broadcasts Wi-Fi. There is no engineer visit and no wires to your property at all. EE, Vodafone, and Three all offer 5G home broadband. Speeds vary significantly by location but can reach 300+ Mbps in well-covered urban areas. Not suitable for rural areas with limited 5G coverage.

Do I still need a phone number?

No. Most UK households are moving away from landline phone numbers entirely. If you want to keep a phone number, providers offer Digital Voice (VoIP) services that work over your broadband connection. Ofcom's research shows fewer than 30% of UK households now make regular landline calls. You are not required to take a phone service alongside any broadband package.