You don’t have to use a phone line in order to get internet. In 2025, most U.S. homes can choose broadband without a landline via fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), cable (HFC), 5G fixed wireless access (FWA), or satellite. Availability is highly address-specific, so start by checking the FCC National Broadband Map. Ongoing public investment through the $42.45B BEAD program is funding new high‑speed builds in 2025–2027, and median U.S. fixed‑broadband speeds continue to rise as networks upgrade (Ookla U.S. index). Global benchmarks also show rising fixed medians around the 90–100 Mbps range as of late 2024 (Ookla Global Index).
Options for Cheap Internet Service Without a Phone Line Connection:
Satellite: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite (e.g., Starlink) delivers typical downloads from tens to a few hundred Mbps with median latencies often ~40–55 ms in recent tests; typical upload medians are ~8–15 Mbps, varying by cell loading (Starlink Q2 2024 performance). In many U.S. areas Starlink Residential runs about ~$120/month with a one‑time equipment cost around ~$599; plan availability and pricing vary by location (Starlink Residential). Traditional GEO satellite (e.g., HughesNet) advertises up to 100 Mbps on its JUPITER 3 platform but has much higher latency (~500–650+ ms); plans and pricing depend on data allowances and region (HughesNet plans). Capacity limits mean some GEO availability is constrained in parts of the U.S. (Viasat capacity update). Satellite plans commonly include fair‑use/network‑management policies; always confirm local terms.
DSL: Normal DSL actually does require a phone line for internet, but don’t rule it out yet. You can opt for “Naked DSL” (or standalone/dry‑loop DSL), which provides internet via a copper pair without paying for a traditional analog voice plan. However, the 2025 snapshot shows Naked DSL is now rare and shrinking as copper is retired and customers migrate to fiber or FWA. In the U.S., carriers continue filing 2024–2025 copper‑retirement notices with the FCC, eliminating dry‑loop DSL where plant is removed (FCC copper retirement). In the UK, the analogue phone network is being withdrawn, with “single‑order” broadband (e.g., SOGEA) replacing PSTN where copper remains, and FTTP increasingly displacing copper lines (Openreach Big Switch Off; Ofcom Connected Nations 2024). Australia’s NBN disconnects legacy ADSL/copper after migration, effectively ending Naked ADSL in NBN areas (NBN disconnections). In Canada, some wholesalers still offer dry‑loop DSL with a separate line charge, but only where copper persists and footprints are shrinking (TekSavvy dry loop). Copper‑based DSL typically delivers ~10–100 Mbps downstream with lower uploads and higher variability than modern options (OECD broadband stats).
Cable: Similar to cable television, cable internet uses a hybrid fiber‑coax network rather than a phone line. Common download tiers are about 300 Mbps to 1.2 Gbps, with uploads that range from tens of Mbps up to a few hundred Mbps in areas that have received “high‑split” upgrades; limited DOCSIS 4.0 rollouts are also beginning (market context; DOCSIS 4.0 (CableLabs)). Latency is typically in the teens to a few tens of milliseconds, and pricing varies by market and promotion (Ookla U.S. index). The cable will deliver internet to your modem, which you can connect to devices via Ethernet or to a Wi‑Fi router for whole‑home coverage.
Wireless (4G): Fourth‑generation wireless allows you to access the internet on your mobile device — but for home broadband without cables, 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) has become a mainstream alternative. Typical advertised download ranges are ~72–245 Mbps for T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet and ~85–300 Mbps for Verizon 5G Home, with latency commonly ~30–60+ ms. Plans are often ~$50–$70/month with autopay or mobile‑bundle discounts and are generally “unlimited” but can be subject to network management or deprioritization per provider terms. Self‑install gateways make setup simple. Adoption has surged: in the U.S., fixed wireless accounted for more than 100% of net broadband additions in 2024 as wireline net adds were flat to negative (LRG broadband tracking; broader 5G/FWA growth: Ericsson Mobility Report).
How to Get Internet Without Cable
You might be surprised to learn that you can get cheap internet service without phone lines or cable TV bundles. Options include fiber‑optic (FTTH), standalone cable internet, 5G home internet (FWA), and satellite. Confirm what’s actually offered at your address on the FCC National Broadband Map. Many internet service providers sell internet without requiring phone or TV. Typical U.S. benchmarks: fiber 1 Gbps plans often ~$60–$80/month with symmetric speeds; 5G FWA around ~$50–$70 with ~70–300 Mbps typical downloads; LEO satellite commonly ~$120/month plus hardware (~$599); cable offers 300 Mbps–1.2 Gbps downloads with market‑dependent pricing (fiber pricing example; T‑Mobile 5G Home; Verizon 5G Home; Starlink). For context, global fixed medians hover around 90–100 Mbps as of late 2024 (Ookla Global Index).
Fiber-Optic Internet
One of the newest technologies offering internet without cable is fiber internet. Modern FTTH typically uses XGS‑PON and delivers symmetric tiers of 300 Mbps–1 Gbps, with multi‑gig options (2–5+ Gbps) now common; select markets even offer 8–20 Gbps. For example, Google Fiber launched a 20‑Gig residential service bundled with Wi‑Fi 7 in select cities (launched at ~$250/month) (Google Fiber 20‑Gig). Fiber provides best‑in‑class latency (often single‑digit to low‑teens ms) and reliability, with 1 Gbps plans frequently in the ~$60–$80 range and higher prices for multi‑gig tiers (BEAD and build context). Availability continues to expand through private builds and public funding, and regulators report rising full‑fiber coverage (e.g., UK full‑fibre ≈62% of premises, gigabit ≈80%) (Ofcom Connected Nations).
All Your Internet Options — Without Needing a Phone Line
With fiber, cable, wireless (5G/4G fixed wireless), and satellite, it is possible to get fast internet service without phone lines. Naked DSL exists only in shrinking niches due to copper retirement and migration to IP‑based services (FCC copper retirement; Openreach Big Switch Off). Compare options at your address by upload performance (fiber is symmetric; cable uploads range from tens to a few hundred Mbps depending on upgrades; LEO satellite uploads often ~8–15 Mbps), latency (fiber lowest; FWA/cable mid‑range; LEO far lower than GEO), data policies (FWA deprioritization; satellite fair‑use), equipment costs (e.g., LEO hardware typically ~$599), and total monthly price (T‑Mobile 5G Home; Verizon 5G Home; Starlink Residential). U.S. fixed‑network medians are improving (Ookla U.S. index), and households now average roughly 700 GB of monthly data usage — so choose a plan with headroom for streaming, work, and gaming (OpenVault Q2 2025).
