As of 2021, there are only 884 million fixed telephone line subscriptions around the world. The numbers keep reducing every year. Many people don’t need landlines for their everyday lives. In fact, most of them only install them so they can have a broadband connection. That is why it doesn’t come as a surprise that more and more households are trying to find ways to get around this kind of connection.
Luckily, there are ways to avoid using a phone line. Today, we’re presenting you with all the options you have when it comes to a broadband connection!
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Do You Need a Phone Line for a Broadband Connection?
In most cases, you need to have a phone line in order to enable a broadband connection in your home. However, there are different ways of getting an internet connection in the house, and some of them won’t require having a landline.
Still, the easiest ways to gain access to a stable connection is via a phone line. In addition, the options without the landline won’t be available for everyone. Thus, you might not even have them, depending on where you live.
On the upside, it will be pretty easy to discover your own connection possibilities. That’s because most internet service providers have that kind of information for every area. But, you’ll still have to do some research on your alternatives before committing to an internet plan.
All of the Ways You Can Get a Broadband Connection
Before you decide on the method you’ll use to gain access to the internet, you’ll have to explore your options. Thus, now we’ll take a look at the most common types of broadband connection and whether they need a phone line to work.
1. The ADSL Broadband
The ADSL copper broadband is a widely available method of getting an internet connection. If any kind of broadband is available around you, it will most likely be ADSL. It usually provides a stable signal, and it’s pretty easy to install.
However, the ADSL copper broadband requires a landline, as it won’t work without it. Therefore, in case the ADSL connection is your only option, you will need to have a phone line to install it.
2. The Fiber Broadband
The fiber broadband is sort of an upgrade to the regular ADSL one. There are various types of this kind of connection, and some of them won’t require having a landline. But, for the widely available ones, such as the FTTC, or the Fibre-to-the-cabinet, you’ll have to own a phone line. Hence, you can already deduct that the downside to this type of connection is that it isn’t available for every household and in every area. That is why it’s not as common.
However, with some research and a few extra steps in installing it, there is a chance that you’ll be able to install it in your house. You should also make sure that you choose a type of fiber broadband that will be able to work without a phone line if you want that. Despite the additional time, you’ll put into it, the fiber broadband is definitely worth trying out. Most experts claim that it provides a much faster and stronger signal than the regular ADSL one.
3. The Cable Broadband
The main purpose of cable broadband is to connect your house to the fiber cabinet in the area where you live. So, it works in a similar manner as the ADSL. The main difference lies in the fact that cable broadband doesn’t require the use of copper wires. Instead, it needs coaxial cables, which link to the fiber cabinet.
As a result, your internet connection is much faster than what ADSL broadband can provide. If we were to order these three types of broadband, the fastest one would be the regular fiber connection with the cable broadband being in the middle and the copper one coming in last.
However, the main reason why cable broadband is not as popular is due to it not being available in every area. Thus, many people don’t have much choice but to go for ADSL. Cable broadband doesn’t require the use of a landline. That is why it’s the most common solution for those who don’t have a house phone.
Aside from the unavailability, another big downside to using this kind of connection is the pricing. In most cases, the cable broadband that doesn’t need a landline is a bit more expensive. When you take into account that you’ll be paying for the services on a monthly basis, it adds up to a much bigger price difference.
In addition, internet service providers are usually setting up plans with phone lines which present a much better deal than those without it. That is why many people opt for using broadband with a phone line instead. Still, if you’re committed to not using the phone line, it’s possible with cable broadband.
4. The Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband runs on either a 4G or a 5G network, which enables it to reach fantastic connection speeds. For many people, mobile broadband will be enough for their everyday activities. An advantage to this type of connection is that it’s available for most households.
However, this broadband won’t be enough for those that perform activities that require more broadband. Some of them are streaming and downloading large files often. Furthermore, it’s not the best option for larger households.
Mobile broadband usually works via a mobile internet dongle. You purchase a plan with the dongle, insert it into a device, and you’ll be able to use it without any issues. Some types of mobile broadband can also come with a hub. This hub works similarly to a regular router, and it provides a stronger connection throughout the house.
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The biggest downside to mobile broadband is the price. If you’re not able to commit to a longer contract, chances are you’ll be paying much more money for your internet connection. What’s more, mobile broadband is said to be a bit more unreliable.
That means that you’ll likely experience frequent abruptions in the connection. But, you won’t have to buy a phone line. So, it’s a good option for those who want to avoid installing a landline or aren’t able to set it up for some reason.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, out of four broadband types that are available for most people, there are some that don’t require the use of a landline. Hopefully, you were able to find a perfect option for your household, and you can now enjoy life without high phone bills!
Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.
I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.
Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.
My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.