To get a landline and a broadband connection hooked up, you’ll usually need a phone line. But what if your home doesn’t have one?
"If you’re installing a phone line so you can get a broadband package, make sure you take into account the cost into the monthly price as a whole. It may seem like a no brainer if one provider is £3 a month cheaper than another for the same broadband package, but if phone line installation is £140, while the other is free - you no longer have yourself a bargain." - Charlotte Burns
Easy: you get one installed. Here’s what you need to know, and what to expect from the process.
What to do if there’s no phone line in your house
- The good news is that getting a line installed is incredibly simple. It goes like this:
- Find a phone line (and broadband provider if you like) that operates in your postcode. Choose a package, and click through to place your order
- Enter your details, including your address
- The provider will use your address information to assess whether you need a new line installed or an old one reconnected. It will then tell you the next steps involved, and any fees that apply (which can run from zero cost to around £140)
- On the day of your installation, an engineer will visit to connect your new line. It usually takes 1-2 hours
- That’s it! Enjoy your new phone line.
Use our postcode checker to see some of the providers you can choose from in your area.
Compare broadband deals in your area
If your home isn’t covered by any providers’ networks (perhaps it’s a new build, or in a very rural location), it may be best to contact Openreach directly to see if they can connect you. They’ll help you find the best solution.
Can’t get a line installed at all? A mobile broadband router may be your friend. These are home routers from mobile networks (including EE or O2), and they get you online via 4G and 5G instead of fixed lines.
They otherwise work just the same as a broadband router from any other provider – you can connect all your devices via Wi-Fi and enjoy fast speeds and up to unlimited downloads.
Broadband and landline deals
Plenty of phone and broadband providers will gladly install a new line for you – and all it takes is signing up to a package. Here are some of our top picks for broadband and landline deals right now.
- 132Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £25.00 per month
- £20.83 Avg. monthly cost
- 158Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £19.99 per month
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
What if I want a second landline?
No problem – most providers can help you with this as well.
The process can vary depending on the provider, however. Some let you specify that you want a second line when you sign up to a new package – BT does so, for instance. Others, meanwhile, are best contacted directly.
To get a second line installed:
- Choose a phone and/or broadband package you like the look of.
- Tell the provider that you’d like a second line. You may be able to do so on the sign-up page of the provider’s website – if not, give their sales line a call.
- Pick an installation day, when an engineer will visit to set your new line up.
- That’s it! Enjoy your second line.
Bear in mind that you’ll need to pay the provider’s usual fee for a new phone line installation – more on that below.
If you already have broadband set up, you may find it easiest to get your current provider to install a second line. But it’s also possible to get a second line from an entirely different provider – a good choice if you want a dedicated business line.
Either way, both your lines will have separate sets of bills. On the plus side, that does mean you can sign up to an enticing new customer deal when you get your new line.
How much does a new landline cost?
At the time of writing (May 2023), this is what the following providers charge to install a brand new phone line:
- BT/Openreach - £140 (may be lower if you take out a BT broadband package too)
- EE - £50
- Hyperoptic – free, but charges apply for additional cabling
- Plusnet - £49.99
- Sky - £20 (no second landline available)
- TalkTalk - £60
- Virgin Media - From £30
A ‘standard’ new phone line installation from Openreach is £140, but it’s much lower (£70) if you’re reconnecting an old line. Openreach and BT often lower or waive this if you’re signing up to a broadband package too.
But as you can see, there are other options from other providers as well. And again, sometimes these fees don’t apply at all if you’re signing up to a broadband package with them – though that depends on their current offer and the exact situation of phone lines at your property.
Do I need a landline to access the internet?
In short, yes. Even if you don’t use it for a landline phone, your home does need to be hooked up to a physical phone line of some description in order to use the internet. Most broadband is connected via these lines.
It’s a bit complex, though. For the full lowdown, read our guide: Do you need a phone line for broadband?
The exception to the rule is mobile broadband, available from networks like EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three. This works via 4G or 5G mobile networks, so no landline is necessary. All you need is a plug socket and good signal.
Who can I get a phone line from?
All broadband providers offer phone lines. In most cases, this is how the broadband is delivered. So that includes:
Most providers also have options that let you save money on your calls, too. There are phone packages with inclusive evening and weekend calls, anytime calls, cheap international calling, and more.
Not every phone provider operates everywhere, however. You’ll need to check your post code to see what’s available where you are.
We’ve made that easy with our comparison tool. Compare broadband and phone deals with MoneySuperMarket to see options available for you, and adjust the filters to find all the bundles that fit what you need from your line.
