Ireland’s best broadband only deals

What is broadband-only?

Broadband-only is a broadband deal without a call plan or digital TV service.

Many broadband providers in Ireland require a phone line to deliver your broadband service, so tend to offer a call package as part of the broadband deal.

This means that finding a cheap broadband deal in Ireland without a call plan can be tricky - but there are some available.

Can you get broadband without a phone line?

You can get broadband without a phone line, but the choice of broadband providers and plans may be limited.

Many broadband deals offered by Irish providers need an active phone line to deliver a broadband connection like ADSL broadband or part fibre. This cost is bundled in with the price of your monthly contract, so line rental charges aren’t separated from the cost of broadband.

Broadband providers charge for this line rental, which is included in the advertised price, even if you don’t use your home phone.

You can read our guide: How to get broadband without a phone line to find out more.

Does fibre broadband use a phone line?

Part fibre broadband uses phone lines to deliver internet to your home, but full fibre doesn’t need a landline.

Most fibre connections in Ireland are Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC), also known as part-fibre, which means the majority of your broadband connection is fibre optic, but it’s brought into your home by older copper cables.

It’s the reason why line rental cost is included in the overall monthly price even if you don’t use your landline.

However, if you are in an area with a full fibre (FTTH) network, you can get broadband speeds up to 2GB and don’t need a phone line.

Compare fibre broadband plans

How do you get broadband-only without a phone line?

There are several ways you can get a broadband-only plan without a landline, depending on your location.

• Full fibre broadband uses underground cables which deliver fibre directly to your home, so there is no need for a phone line. It is the fastest type of fibre connection with speeds of up to 2,000Mbps.
• 4G and 5G mobile broadband uses your mobile phone signal to connect to the internet. It can be less reliable than a wired internet connection, but it’s landline-free. You need a USB dongle, a SIM card or modem to get online.
• Satellite is ideal for rural areas where broadband cables have not been laid. The broadband signal is beamed from a satellite to a dish fitted to your home. Broadband speed is slower, connectivity is variable, and there may be installation fees.

Which providers offer broadband-only deals?

These internet providers offer broadband-only, whether or not you’re in a full fibre location.

• Pure Telecom
• Sky
• Vodafone
• Virgin Media

Is broadband-only cheaper?

Irish broadband providers tend to bundle call plans with broadband deals as part of the price.

For some providers, the price for broadband-only and a broadband package is the same; for others, like Pure Telecom, you can save several euros per month.

A home phone package often comes with features like free off-peak calls, voicemail and caller display, so if you use your home phone for even just occasional calls, then a broadband and home phone deal may save you money.

On balance, it might be cheaper to combine broadband and phone even if you don’t use your landline regularly.