Do You Still Need to Pay Line Rental for Broadband?

There was a time in the UK when every home needed to have a phone line for a broadband connection. Now, people are starting to ask if they really need a landline at home. New types of broadband, like full fibre, do not use a phone line anymore. Some broadband options, like mobile broadband, work with the mobile network and not through the phone socket in your wall.

What Is a Landline and Why Did It Matter Before?

A landline is the old type of telephone line that comes into your house on copper wires. At first, people used it just to make phone calls. Later, broadband internet started to use this line too. This was common with older broadband like ADSL and fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC).

In the past, when you wanted home broadband, you also had to pay for the home phone, even if you did not use it. This extra payment was called line rental. The cost was a separate part of your monthly bill. It was often about £15 to £20 each month.

This setup was very normal for providers that used the Openreach network. This includes companies like BT, Plusnet, Sky, and some more. The phone line is just the way the internet gets into your home. That is why you had to pay for the phone line, even if you did not want to use it.

Now that we have newer types of broadband like full fibre, you do not need a phone line to get the internet. A lot of people want to know if they can stop paying for a landline. The good news is, with full fibre broadband, you often can.

What Is Full Fibre Broadband?

Full fibre broadband, which people also call FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), is a new kind of home broadband in the UK. The older broadband types, such as ADSL or FTTC, use some copper phone lines. But full fibre broadband uses only pure fibre optic cables from the exchange right to your home. So, you get a better and faster way to use the internet with this type of fibre broadband.

That means you do not have to use a phone line or a landline at all. So, you do not need to pay for line rental.

Instead of putting data through copper wires, full fibre broadband sends light signals through cables made of fibre glass. This means that:

• Faster download and upload speeds – good for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart homes
• No drop in speed over long distances – fibre keeps the speed fast, even if you are far from the street cabinet
• More stable and reliable connection – fewer faults and not many problems with weather
• No landline number needed – you just get the internet with no need to plug in a home phone

Full fibre is already in many areas of the UK. Ofcom’s 2024 Connected Nations report says that about 62% of UK homes can get a full fibre broadband connection. This number is going up every month. More people are able to use fibre broadband and full fibre broadband all over the UK now.

Many new providers in the UK offer only full fibre services now. Some older companies, like BT, are also changing their setups. They move their customers to fibre-only systems. This change is because the UK plans to retire the old PSTN network by December 2025. So, more homes will have digital and fibre-only services.

Is Line Rental Still Charged?

Some providers still give broadband deals that use the old copper line network. In these cases:

• The home broadband deal has the line rental in the price.
• Even if you do not use or plug in a phone, you still have to pay for the copper line.
• BT, TalkTalk, and other companies still show these choices.

But with fibre broadband or mobile broadband, you do not have to pay for line rental. The cost you see for fibre broadband or mobile broadband is for the broadband itself. There is no extra line rental on top.

What Happens When PSTN Is Turned Off?

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the UK’s old phone line system. People have used it for many years, but it runs on old copper wires that work in an analogue way. Now, these are not easy or cheap to keep in use.

The PSTN will be completely turned off by December 2025. Ofcom and Openreach have shared this news. This change will reach millions of homes in the UK. It will have an impact on people who still use landlines or have their broadband set up with old copper lines.

Here’s what the switch-off means for your home setup:

This means that your home setup will change. Some things that you use now may not work the same way. You may have to get new devices, or change the way you use the ones you have. It is good to check what is still working and what needs to be updated. Think about how this will affect you and your family at home. If you are not sure about anything, you can ask someone for help.

• All phone calls will move to digital services – Your provider will give you a service like Digital Voice or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). This means your phone calls will now go over the internet instead of a copper phone line.
• Your home phone will connect to your broadband hub – ​Now you will not plug your home phone into a wall socket. Plug it into your broadband hub (router) by using a special port or adapter.
• No more broadband over copper-only lines – Providers will not sell broadband that works only with a copper phone line anymore. You will need to use full fibre, cable, or a hybrid fibre service for the internet at your home.

If you still want or need a home phone in your house, your provider should have a home phone service that works using broadband. This is very important for some people.

• Older residents who need landline phones
• Homes that use telecare systems or emergency alarms, like fall detectors or care pendants

You may need to see if your phone works with this. Some old handsets do not work in the same way as new ones. These handsets could need a battery backup. This is important during power cuts. Digital voice phones need electricity to work. Old copper landlines could work even when the power was out. Now, this is not the case.

Some broadband providers may give you battery units or extra equipment. You can get this offer if you are considered vulnerable or if you use emergency services.

By the time they turn off the PSTN, most people will have fibre broadband in their homes. Some will have full fibre broadband, and others will use a mix of fibre and another connection with digital voice built in.

If you do not do anything, your provider will probably get in touch with you to help set up the switch. You will not need to get a new phone number. But, you might have to change the way your phone connects when you are at home.

Can I Still Make Emergency Calls?

Yes, but there are some changes. If your home phone connects to the broadband hub, the phone will need power to work. During a power cut, your phone will not work unless you have a backup power unit.

For people who use medical alert systems or need a home phone to reach emergency services, Ofcom says that providers must do the following:

• Let people know about battery backup if they need it

-Say how emergency calling will work

-Give help to users who may need more support

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What If I Still Want a Home Phone?

Some people still want to use a landline phone to make calls, especially when the mobile coverage is not strong. In this case:

• You can still have inclusive anytime minutes with some broadband plans.
• Some providers like BT, EE, and others may add a home phone to your internet.
• Now, it will be a digital landline, not the old kind that used copper.

Can I Save Money Without a Landline?

Yes, but not all the time. The monthly price for a full fibre broadband deal without a phone line is often lower than a bundle with phone line access. However:

• Some broadband deals give you a digital phone without charging you more.
• If you have a mobile phone contract that gives you unlimited minutes, it can make sense to drop your landline.
• You should check with your broadband provider to see if you will pay less for broadband alone.

If you do not use a landline, you should look at plans that do not have line rental or home phone features. This can be a good way to save money and get what you need.

What Are the Main Types of Broadband Available?

Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC)

FTTC is a popular broadband option in the UK. It uses fibre optic cables along with regular copper wires.

• This type uses both fibre and copper wires.
• A phone line is needed, so you have to pay line rental.
• Speeds can go up to 80 Mbps. The farther you are, the slower it gets.
• Many people use the same setup, so speeds may drop when a lot of people are on at the same time.

FTTC can be found in many areas, but now it is slowly being taken over by faster options such as full fibre. A lot of people are switching to these new fibre services because they give better speed and a good connection. Over time, full fibre is likely to be the main choice for most people.

Full Fibre (FTTP)

Full fibre broadband, or FTTP, brings the internet right to your home by using fibre optic cables. With this type of fibre broadband, you get a fast and steady connection. It is different from older broadband types. Full fibre broadband does not use old copper lines. That is why many people like full fibre. It gives you better internet for things you do every day.

• You do not need to use copper wires or a phone line.
• There is no need for line rental.
• You can get speeds that start from 100 Mbps and go up to over 1 Gbps.
• The connection is more steady, even when many people are using it.

Ofcom said that by the end of 2024, 62% of UK homes had full fibre. The full fibre rollout is still going fast across the UK.

Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband lets you get online through 4G or 5G. It works by using a SIM card in a router or on a mobile device. This way, people can use the internet with their broadband wherever they go. A good broadband plan with a sim gives you fast mobile broadband and is easy to use.

• You do not need a landline or any wires for this.
• This works well for things like short-term setups, when you travel, or if you need to use it on the go.
• Speeds can change depending on the signal, but with 5G, it can go over 100 Mbps.
• A data cap might be there unless you are on a plan that is unlimited.

It’s a good option for you if you live in an area with strong mobile coverage. You do not have to use wired broadband with this, so it gives you more ways to get on the internet.

Satellite Broadband

Satellite broadband is good for people in rural areas. It is often used where fibre or copper lines do not go. This be a way to get internet when you do not have other options.

• You do not need a landline, so you will not have to pay line rental.
• A satellite dish and a modem are needed.
• Setup costs are more than what you pay for other types.
• Most speeds are between 20 and 50 Mbps, but there is more lag.

New low-orbit satellite services are helping to make things work better, but this kind of service is usually a backup. People often use it when there is no other way to get service.

Can You Switch to Broadband Without a Landline?

Yes, you can switch to a provider that has full fibre or mobile broadband without a phone line. To do this:

1. Check your postcode to find out what is there.
2. Pick one provider that has full fibre broadband or mobile broadband.
3. Stay away from plans with line rental or home phone service if you do not need them.
4. Make sure the broadband connection does not need a copper phone line.

If your home already has the right cables, you do not need to set up an appointment with an engineer.

What Are the Downsides of Broadband Without a Landline?

Broadband without a landline may cost less. It can also be an easier option for many people. But there are a few things you have to think about. This is true if you live in an older house or a place that does not have much digital set-up. So, make sure you know about these things when you look at broadband choices.

• No emergency fallback – If there is a power cut, your digital home phone that connects through broadband will not work unless there is a battery backup. Traditional landlines would often keep working during power problems, since the power came from the exchange.
• Security system problems – A lot of older home security alarms and careline systems, which are used by elderly or vulnerable people, still work on copper landline connections. These systems might stop working if you do not upgrade to either a digital or mobile broadband alternative.
• Limited availability in some homes – Some older homes, or ones in rural or edge-of-town areas, may not have access to full fibre or a strong mobile broadband signal yet. These homes may need to keep using landline-based broadband until the new fibre or broadband networks are ready.
• No standalone phone option – If you really depend on your home phone and do not use a mobile phone much, removing your old landline could leave you without a voice service. You need to have a digital phone solution for calls if the landline goes away.

What If You Still Have Copper Wiring?

If you still have copper phone lines in your home, you likely use traditional types of broadband that need a landline. This is usually ADSL or fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC).

• Line rental still applies – The internet uses the same copper wire as your phone, so line rental is often added to your bill. This happens even if you do not make calls on it.
• Older broadband technology – A copper connection gives slower broadband speeds. The speed also depends on how far you are from the street box or exchange. Because of this, you might get less reliable service, especially at busy times.
• Special router or hub needed – You usually need a router or hub that works with both your internet and phone, like a BT Hub. This setup often needs microfilters in every phone socket to split the signal.
• Upgrade may be required – When a full fibre or digital-only broadband service comes to your area, your provider will ask, or might even require you, to switch. To do this, you may need a new socket or hub, or someone might need to visit your home to help.
• Ofcom deadlines matter – With the PSTN switch-off happening in December 2025, UK homes that still use copper will have to move to digital or full fibre broadband. Now is a good time to check if fibre is ready in your place.

Should You Remove Your Landline Completely?

You can remove your landline if:

• You do not use the home phone at all.
• You already get good coverage on your mobile phone.
• You have switched to full fibre broadband.
• You want to make your monthly payments lower.

But keep it if:

• You live in a place where the mobile signal is not good.
• You count on landlines when there is an emergency and you need emergency services.
• You have home alarm systems that need a phone line to work.

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How to Compare Broadband Deals Without a Landline

To find the right deal:

1. Enter your postcode in a broadband comparison tool.
2. Filter to show only full fibre or mobile broadband options.
3. Try not to pick deals that include home phone service or inclusive anytime minutes.
4. Look at the average speeds the service offers, not just the “up to” speeds.
5. Check the monthly cost, any setup fees, and read the contract terms.
6. Make sure that the deal includes a hub or router.

Correct as of 05 June 2025