Do you need an Internet broadband connection but don’t want a landline phone with it? Your problem can easily be solved. Depending on where you live you may even be able to get a terrific Internet broadband connection without the need for a landline phone. This will definitely save some money. “Is this really possible?”, I hear you say. Well yes… and we will find out how over the next few minutes…. So read on.
So it isn’t necessary for me to have a landline?
It is a bit disappointing to pay for something you do not even use. How often do we really use out landline? Most of us have hefty mobile phone minute allowances, and just don’t need the fixed line. The problem with broadband connections in the UK is that there are few ISPs that provide broadband without requiring a phone line to go with it. ADSL broadband is through the BT copper wire and therefore must have a phone line, and line rental paid… full stop! There are alternative broadband technologies though.
Is cable Internet a solution to this problem?
The only broadband provider in the UK that historically provided Internet without a landline connection was Virgin Media. While the other Internet companies provided Internet through the copper wires, Virgin media has long had its own fibre optic system, which is completely separate from the BT ADSL network. Nowadays many providers have run cable and BT has their own network. Fibre to the home providers will not require a landline.
Fibre Broadband or Mobile Broadband
There are two main ways that you get online without having a landline.
1. You can start using a fibre broadband service.
2. You can use Internet via mobile broadband.
Fibre broadband doesn’t use copper wires to provide Internet, they use fibre optic cables instead. Fibre networks are the next generation of broadband. They are known for astonishingly high speed Internet connections, providing lucky consumers with speeds of around 60Mb per second, 100Mb per second or even more, depending upon the package you choose. I say lucky consumers because whether you can get this superfast broadband is a postcode lottery. Around 60% of the UK is currently able to get fibre broadband. The rest will be… well… unlucky.
Mobile 3G Internet
The second way to get broadband Internet without getting a phone line is by using mobile 3G or 4G Internet. This option allows you to get rid of a landline in your home so you don’t have to pay the line rental. Although mobile Internet is pretty cheap and cost-effective for some users, only go for this option if you have extremely low Internet usage. If you are a heavy user do not rely on mobile Internet because usage limits are never truly unlimited and data costs per GB are relatively higher than fixed broadband.
The amount you save by getting rid of that line rental will be more than counterbalanced by mobile data costs.
3G Internet is only really suitable for users who want to check emails, surf the Internet a bit or complete relatively light activities in the mould. 3G speeds make streaming and downloading large files frustrating. 4G connectivity is going to improve the situation massively, but again you will have to be lucky to get 4G at the moment.
Getting Mobile Broadband
Start by researching the 3G/4G Internet providers in your area and then choose the one which has the best signal. It’s easy to do a broadband coverage check on operator websites or comparison sites themselves.
There are three main deal types that you can choose from:
1. A one month contract
2. Pay as you go
3. A 12-24 month contract
The longer contracts offer data allowances between 3GB and 30GB every month, so they really are quite different.
When choosing a package make sure you get enough data so you do not exceed the download limit. If you do it will result in extra charges applied to your bill. In most cases of “over-consumption” the mobile company notifies you about the situation and provides you with an option of buying extra data for that specific month.
More about 4G Internet
A new generation of mobile Internet has just been introduced to the market and it has all the capabilities to challenge the landline broadband connections. Some think that mobile broadband could replace fixed broadband in the future. The reality is that the fibre cables are going to provide 1 gigabit speeds in the future. Mobile broadband will certainly take increasing proportions of the broadband market, with more people choosing it instead of fixed broadband instead of as well as it.
4G isn’t yet available everywhere. EE broadband was the first to introduce 4G. Vodafone, O2 and Three are hot on their heels and we are likely to see something around 90% UK coverage in the not too distant future. The lack of 4G Internet providers may mean a lack of competition to drive down prices. Only time will tell. Certainly the investment companies like 02 are making deserve to be recouped.
Low line rental options compared to BT
BT charges a line rental of £15.45 each month. There are other providers who cumulate all the costs that include line rental, broadband and call charges. This reduces the cost of the package, and you can save some money by choosing this option.
There are other providers such as Primus who provide you with low line rental but only if you buy a broadband connection from them too. Moreover, they offer you a 40% discount on the line rent if you pay it as an annual advance payment. There are other providers that also offer upfront payment discounts.
Satellite Internet
You may want broadband with a phone because you can’t get a phone. You can use satellite Internet as your last resort when you do not have any other available option.
Satellite broadband is getting better, but installation costs tend to be between £300 and £700, the speeds are not superfast, and the data is expensive.
Sam Jones liked the idea of getting broadband without a phone line, as it would save a little money each month. He found some good deals on uSwitch.com and other similar price comparison sites.