How to get broadband without a landline
Are you looking to get broadband without a phone line in your home? Here’s how to access the internet with mobile, satellite or fibre broadband.
Do you need a phone line to get broadband?
No, while some types of broadband like part fibre or ADSL use your phone line to deliver broadband, there are alternatives if you don’t have one.
If you don’t want a landline, or can’t have one, there are other types of broadband connection available in Ireland, such as:
Ways to get broadband without a phone line
There are several ways to get broadband if you don’t have a phone or access to a landline. With full fibre being rolled out across the country and more providers offering mobile broadband, the choice is greater than ever.
Mobile broadband
4G and 5G mobile broadband is becoming more widely available.
The technology that provides mobile broadband is the same as your mobile phone and many mobile networks offer mobile broadband via mobile dongles and 4G and 5G SIMs.
Mobile broadband can be useful, especially if you need to access the internet on the move, but you’ll need to be sure that the coverage is decent in order to get a reliable internet connection.
Bear in mind that if your mobile phone signal is bad where you live, you’re likely to get a poor mobile broadband signal, too.
Fibre broadband
Full fibre broadband is delivered to your door using fibre-optic cables, so you do not need a landline.
If you live in a very rural area, some fibre and faster broadband packages may not be available. You can find out what’s available in your area with our quick and easy broadband checker.
Satellite broadband
If you can’t get fibre broadband where you live, and your mobile coverage isn’t good, you could opt for satellite broadband.
Although speeds from some satellite connections are slow, it’s useful because it’s available anywhere in Ireland, including rural areas, and doesn’t depend on cables or telephone lines.
Starlink is Ireland’s newest satellite broadband operator owned by the company SpaceX, and provides reliable, fast internet to areas that struggle with connectivity.
It works by using multiple, small satellites that are closer to the earth than usual, and promises lag-free speeds of up to 220 Mbps, with a majority of users experiencing speeds around 150 Mbps.
Is it worth getting a landline installed?
Here are a few reasons why you might want a landline:
- Signal problems: If you have don’t have a strong mobile phone signal at home, a landline can be a lifesaver.
- Reliability: If there’s a power cut, or mobile signal goes down, your landline won’t normally be impacted.
- Free local calls: If you don’t have an unlimited mobile plan, making local calls on your landline can sometimes work out cheaper, depending on your package.
If you don’t intend to use your landline you can always choose a broadband-only plan. This means your phone line is used to provide your broadband, but you can’t make phone calls.
How to check broadband availability in your area
The broadband options you have will depend on the providers operating in your area.
If you’d like to find out about broadband availability where you live, our broadband eircode checker and comparison tool displays all of the broadband providers and plans in your area, so it’s simple and quick to find the best deal.
To learn about choosing a new provider or switching broadband, visit our guide How to switch broadband providers.
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