Can I cancel my landline and still have internet?

Yes, in most cases, you can cancel your traditional landline phone service and still maintain your internet connection. While many broadband connections historically relied on the same copper phone lines that carried voice calls, you generally no longer need an active landline phone service or to pay separate line rental fees to get online.

Understanding Broadband and Landlines

It's a common misconception that having internet means you must also have an active landline phone service with a dial tone. For many years, internet access, especially ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and VDSL (Very High-speed Digital Subscriber Line, often part of Fibre-to-the-Cabinet or FTTC), used the existing copper phone line infrastructure to deliver data to your home.

However, this reliance on the physical line does not mean you need an active voice service on that line, nor do you need to have a physical landline phone connected. The line can be used solely for data transmission. This is often referred to as "broadband-only" or "naked broadband" where you pay for the internet service without the added cost of a traditional landline phone package.

How Broadband Works Without an Active Landline Phone

For broadband services that still utilize the copper phone line infrastructure, the setup allows data signals to travel without interference from voice calls:

• Dedicated Data Signal: The broadband signal (DSL or VDSL) uses higher frequencies on the copper line, separate from the lower frequencies used for voice calls.
• No Physical Phone Needed: You do not need to plug a phone into the wall or have a phone number for the internet to work. Your router connects to the phone line socket, and that's it.
• Eliminating Line Rental: Providers often offer packages where the cost of the line is bundled into the broadband price, or they simply charge for the data service, effectively eliminating a separate "line rental" fee for a voice service you don't use.

Broadband Options That Don't Require a Traditional Landline Infrastructure

Beyond services that use the copper phone line for data, several modern broadband technologies do not rely on traditional phone line infrastructure at all:

• Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP): Also known as "full fibre," this technology delivers internet directly to your home via optical fibre cables. It offers superior speeds and reliability, and it has no dependency on copper phone lines.
• Cable Broadband: Providers like Virgin Media often use their own coaxial cable networks to deliver internet (and TV) services. This infrastructure is entirely separate from the traditional telephone network.
• 5G/Mobile Broadband: This type of broadband uses cellular networks (like those for mobile phones) to provide internet access. You use a router or a mobile hotspot device that connects wirelessly to the nearest cell tower, making it completely independent of fixed lines.
• Satellite Broadband: Ideal for rural or remote areas where fixed lines are unavailable, satellite broadband uses a satellite dish to send and receive data from orbiting satellites. It does not require any ground-based phone line infrastructure.

What to Consider Before Cancelling Your Landline

Before making any changes, it's wise to consider the following:

• Check Your Current Provider and Package: Contact your internet service provider to confirm what type of broadband you have and if your current package requires an active voice line or if it's already a "broadband-only" deal. They can advise on switching to a line-rental-free option if available.
• Broadband Type: Identify if your current broadband is ADSL/VDSL (which needs the copper line infrastructure) or full fibre/cable (which does not). This will determine if you need to switch providers or simply change your plan.
• Emergency Services Access: If you rely solely on mobile phones after cancelling a landline, ensure you have reliable mobile signal coverage for emergencies. Some landline phones offer battery backup during power outages, which mobile phones do not.
• Bundled Services: If your internet, TV, or mobile services are bundled with your landline, cancelling the landline might alter the pricing of your other services.

In summary, while the physical infrastructure of a phone line might still be used for some common types of broadband, you do not need an active landline phone service or to pay separate line rental fees to enjoy internet connectivity. Many modern options bypass the traditional phone line altogether.