Keep the connection you need
Broadband without a landline: providers, contracts and costs
Compare UK broadband-only and mobile broadband options, check the contract cost, and choose a connection that fits your home and move-out date.
The useful answer
You can get UK broadband without paying for a home-phone service. Plusnet offers broadband-only fixed connections, Virgin Media offers broadband without a phone line, and Three offers mobile home broadband. Start by deciding whether you want to remove the phone service, the physical cable, or a long contract: these are three different problems, and the same deal may not solve all of them.
What to know
- A broadband-only fixed line can still use a cable or copper connection to your home. You do not need full fibre simply to stop buying a phone service.
- A 4G or 5G router avoids a fixed-line installation, but coverage and the minimum contract still matter.
- Compare the full commitment, including scheduled increases and setup costs, before choosing a low opening price.
What do you actually want to get rid of?
If you work from home and are happy with a wired connection, you probably want a broadband-only package. If you are waiting for installation, the more useful question is how to bridge the gap. Choose the problem first; then compare prices.
| Your priority | Start here | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| No home-phone service | A broadband-only fixed package | Whether keeping a number, alarm or telecare service needs a separate arrangement |
| No cable or engineer visit | 4G/5G home broadband or mobile broadband | Indoor signal, data allowance, equipment and contract length |
| Internet for a short stay | A short contract or pay-as-you-go data option | Minimum total cost, notice period and router cost |
| Get online urgently | An existing mobile hotspot or eligible quick-setup service | The actual delivery and activation dates, not just the advert |
Three places to start your shortlist
These are examples checked on 15 September 2026, not a whole-market ranking. Availability, offers and the terms shown for your address can change. The provider links are in Sources & further reading below.
| Provider / option | Why consider it? | Contract and cost checks |
|---|---|---|
| Plusnet broadband-only | A wired service without a home-phone package; its part-fibre option still uses copper to the home | Check address-specific offers and the minimum term. Do not assume broadband-only means full fibre. |
| Virgin Media broadband-only | A fixed connection using the Virgin Media network without a phone service | Check network availability, setup charges and the quoted activation date. Self-install depends on the property. |
| Three Home Broadband | A mobile connection with no fixed line or engineer installation | The checked page advertises 12- and 24-month plans. Indoor coverage and the full commitment matter. |
An opening price is only one part of the bill
On 15 September 2026, Three advertised its 24-month Home Broadband plan at £18 a month, rising to £21.50 from 1 April 2027 and £25 from 1 April 2028. Its 12-month plan started at £22, rising to £25.50 from 1 April 2027. These are dated advertised prices, not a personalised quote; check the current offer and contract summary before ordering.
Write out every price period that falls within your contract. Add setup, delivery and any charge for leaving your old provider. Compare the total over the same period, rather than multiplying the first month’s price by the full term.
Only need broadband for a few months?
A router that arrives quickly can still tie you to a long contract. For a short tenancy or an installation gap, compare a short fixed-line contract with mobile broadband or a pay-as-you-go data SIM. Three’s separate Mobile Broadband page lists pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go options; these are not the same as its advertised 12- and 24-month Home Broadband plans.
Include the cost of a compatible router if you need one, the data allowance, pack expiry and any renewal or notice requirement. Test whether the connection supports the calls, streaming or uploads you actually need. A coverage map is a starting point, not a test inside your room.
Before you order, check these five things
- Enter your exact address in the provider’s checker and confirm the connection type offered.
- Ask whether a working line or socket already exists, whether an engineer is needed, and when service can start.
- For mobile broadband, check indoor coverage and test the places you could put the router. Read the applicable return terms.
- Save the contract summary: monthly prices and increases, minimum term, setup charges, notice and equipment-return requirements.
- Check any phone number, telecare device, alarm, TV bundle or provider email account before changing the service.
Arrange the handover before cancelling
For an eligible fixed broadband switch, Ofcom’s One Touch Switch guidance says to start with the new provider and review the information your current provider sends about charges and affected services. Do not cancel the old connection independently before understanding the handover.
A standalone mobile-data purchase does not by itself tell your fixed provider to stop billing you. Confirm how the old contract ends, allow for any overlap you need, and keep the final bill. If timing is your main concern, the next-day broadband guide below explains delivery, activation and temporary options separately.
Sources & further reading
Examples are illustrative unless stated otherwise.
- Plusnet: broadband without a landline · Checked 15 September 2026
- Virgin Media: installation and broadband-only options · Checked 15 September 2026
- Three: Home Broadband plans and advertised prices · Checked 15 September 2026
- Three: Mobile Broadband and pay-as-you-go options · Checked 15 September 2026
- Ofcom: switching broadband provider · Checked 15 September 2026
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