Can I have a landline without broadband? Yes, here's how

Written by (LinkedIn) • Reviewed by Adrian James (LinkedIn)

Last reviewed: 2 November 2026

Quick summary: Yes, you can keep a landline without broadband. BT sells it from £13.09 a month, or £10 with unlimited calls on benefits. Every option and what to do.

Can I have a landline without broadband
Illustration: Can I have a landline without broadband? Yes, here's how

Yes, you can. Here's every way to keep a home phone without paying for the internet

Yes. You can keep a landline without paying for broadband after the old phone network closes on 31 January 2027. BT moves its landline-only customers to Home Phone Standard at no extra cost, with no new kit, and still sells landline-only lines by phone: £13.09 a month with its Line Only Discount, or £10 with unlimited calls if you're on certain benefits. KCOM sells landline-only lines in Hull. Today, check your bill shows the discount, then compare phone and broadband at your postcode in case a bundle costs less.

What it means for youChecked 2 November 2026

If you're already landline-only with BT: you don't have to do anything except answer BT's letter. It moves you to Home Phone Standard for free: same number, same phone, same price. The main change is dialling the area code for every call.

If you get Pension Credit or Universal Credit: ask BT for Home Essentials Call Only. It's £10 a month with unlimited UK calls, which is less than BT's discounted line on its own. In Hull, KCOM's Voice only Flex is £5.10 if you qualify.

If you're moving home or want a new line: ring BT on 0800 587 0083, KCOM in Hull, or Direct Save Telecom. Before you sign a 12-month deal, check whether phone and broadband together costs less at your new address.

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Key facts, verified 2 November 2026

  • The old copper phone network on Openreach's lines closes on 31 January 2027. About 1 million lines were still on it on 30 October 2026, 300,000 of them in business premises (Openreach, 30 October 2026).
  • The government says "Nobody will have to lose their landline service because of this change" (GOV.UK, updated 28 February 2024).
  • BT is moving landline-only customers to Home Phone Standard "at no extra cost", with no broadband or new equipment needed (BT Help, checked 2 November 2026).
  • BT's standard line rental is £31.20 a month. Its Line Only Discount of £18.11 applies to households "without fixed line broadband service from any provider", leaving £13.09 (BT Consumer Price Guide, effective 25 September 2026).
  • BT Home Essentials Call Only is £10 a month with unlimited UK calls, for account holders on Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) or another listed benefit (BT, terms from 7 August 2026).
  • KCOM's Voice only Flex is £5.10 a month with 750 minutes, on a 30-day rolling contract, for Hull-area households on a wider list of benefits that includes Attendance Allowance, PIP and DLA (KCOM, checked 2 November 2026).
  • Home Phone Standard keeps working in a power cut with a corded phone, but cordless handsets need mains power (BT Help, checked 2 November 2026).
  • BT's Ofcom-agreed price limits for landline-only customers ended in March 2026. Line rental rose £1 a month from 31 March 2026, and Ofcom says it intends to monitor BT's pricing (ISPreview, 16 March 2026).
  • Citizens Advice says that if someone tells you that you need to pay to switch your phone line, "It's a scam" (Citizens Advice, checked 2 November 2026).

Who this is for: anyone who uses a home phone but doesn't want to pay for the internet: older people who've kept the same number for decades, the sons, daughters and carers who sort it out for them, people who get online through their mobile, and anyone moving home who only wants a phone line. We follow Jean, who's 81, lives in Norfolk, has had the same number since 1979 and uses a corded phone in the hall. Her daughter Sue looks after the bills. Jean is an example built from the calls we take, not a real customer.

Can I have a landline without broadband?

Direct answer: Yes. The government says nobody has to lose their landline and a "landline only" option stays. BT sells one across the UK, KCOM sells one in Hull, and Direct Save Telecom sells one too. You don't have to buy internet to keep a phone.

The old analogue phone network is closing, and calls are moving onto digital lines. Plenty of people fear that means paying for broadband they'll never use. It doesn't. The government says "Nobody will have to lose their landline service because of this change".

A digital line does need a tiny data connection, around 0.5 megabits per second, but not a broadband package. Ofcom says your provider supplies that connection, and that you shouldn't pay extra for it if you don't take broadband.

Jean, our example, has no computer and no wish for one. For her, the change happens quietly at the telephone exchange, with nothing new in her hall. And landlines are far from finished: Ofcom counted 21.4 million fixed phone lines in the UK at the end of 2025.

Want the wider picture first? Our 100 days to the landline switch-off guide explains what happens on 31 January 2027 for everyone, with or without broadband.

What happens to my landline if I don't have broadband?

Direct answer: If you're with BT and have no broadband, BT moves you to Home Phone Standard at no extra cost. You keep your number, phone and wall socket. There's no new box and no broadband. The work happens at the exchange, and you'll dial the area code for every call.

BT says it is upgrading your current home phone service to Home Phone Standard at no extra cost, and "you won't need to take broadband for this". Asked whether it costs more, BT says: "No, your call package and line rental will remain the same."

BT says you'll get at least four weeks' notice, by post. On the day, the work is done remotely at the exchange, between 8am and 6pm, and takes about an hour. Keep a mobile handy, because the phone won't work while it's happening.

Two things change. You'll need to add the area code to all outgoing calls, even local ones, so update any saved numbers. And you get voicemail: BT's carries on if you had it, or you can ask for it to be switched on.

Virgin Media's landline-only customers won't need to add broadband or TV. Virgin fits its Hub free, with an engineer visit, and your phone plugs into it. It says the new line "will cost the same as your current home phone service".

In Hull, KCOM runs its own network on its own timetable, so ask KCOM what your move involves. If your provider doesn't offer a landline on its own, Age UK says you might have to consider changing to another provider, which may cost more, so ask now rather than in January.

Which providers sell a landline without broadband?

Direct answer: Three, when we checked on 2 November 2026: BT across the UK, KCOM in Hull and East Yorkshire, and Direct Save Telecom. Virgin Media keeps its existing landline-only customers. Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE and Vodafone don't sell a landline on its own.

BT is the main option. Its website says that if you don't have broadband and aren't planning to get it, "you could get a discount on a BT home phone", and asks you to call 0800 587 0083.

For a new line, BT says Home Phone Standard is available where you can't get fibre broadband. Its other new lines use Digital Voice, which plugs into a hub that needs power, so ask which you'll get when you ring.

Direct Save Telecom, based in Watford, sells line rental without broadband on a 12-month agreement. In full fibre areas it may charge a £39.95 set-up fee. Our Direct Save Telecom profile and KCOM profile have the details.

The rest don't sell it. TalkTalk says "TalkTalk doesn't offer traditional landline services", Plusnet's packages won't include any home phone options, and EE's phone is powered over your EE broadband. Sky says its broadband services are inclusive of landline rental, and Vodafone's Digital Voice runs over its broadband too.

How much does a landline without broadband cost?

Direct answer: With BT, £13.09 a month if no one in your home has broadband, plus calls at 24.93p a minute. That's BT's £31.20 line rental minus its £18.11 Line Only Discount. In Hull, KCOM's phone-only line starts at £12.99.

The Line Only Discount matters most. BT gives it to households "without fixed line broadband service from any provider", and it takes £18.11 a month off, which is £217.32 a year. If anyone at home later gets broadband, BT can remove it.

BT's website shows new customers the full £31.20, so ask for the discount by name. If you're already with BT and have no broadband, check your bill shows it. It also makes paper bills free, which otherwise cost £3 each.

On the discount, calls to UK landlines and mobiles cost 24.93p a minute, rounded up to the whole minute, so a ten-minute call is £2.50. Without the discount it's 31.05p a minute.

Heavy callers can pay for unlimited calls. BT's website shows £49.20 a month including line rental, which is £18 on top of the £31.20, so about £31.09 with the discount. That's our sum, not a BT quote, so confirm it when you ring.

KCOM's phone-only plans start at £12.99, with calls at standard rates plus a 23p set-up fee on each call, or £21.99 with unlimited calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers. Each plan shows a 12-month contract, but the small print says "18 month contract applies for standalone phone services", so check before you sign.

Direct Save charges £23.95 a month, or £260 upfront for the year, plus a pay as you go plan at £2.95, with calls at 25.34p a minute, or bigger call plans. A new BT line costs £140 to install, £70 to take over a working one, and nothing if you're moving home.

BT gives two answers on price rises. Its price guide says landline-only prices go up £1 a year, while its deals page says "£2 annual price increase applies to Home Phone only plans". Ask which applies to you, and check your contract summary.

Is there a cheaper landline for pensioners or people on benefits?

Direct answer: Yes. BT's Home Essentials Call Only is £10 a month with unlimited UK calls if the account holder gets Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Universal Credit or another listed benefit. In Hull, KCOM's Voice only Flex is £5.10 and also accepts Attendance Allowance and PIP.

Call Only includes line rental and unlimited anytime calls to UK mobiles and 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers. It's a 12-month plan you can leave at any time for free, and BT says the price won't rise each March by a set amount.

Ofcom says it may be more cost effective than the landline only tariff, and the sums agree: £10 is less than BT's discounted line before a single call.

The benefit must be in the BT account holder's name, and BT checks it each year using details such as your National Insurance number. State Pension alone doesn't count, but Pension Credit does, so check Pension Credit on GOV.UK if you might qualify.

That's what Sue did. Jean gets Pension Credit, so Sue moved her to Call Only: £10 with every UK call included, instead of £13.09 plus calls. The phone and the number stayed exactly as they were.

KCOM's Flex isn't available if you already have a phone service from another company, or if your line is "used exclusively in connection with a burglar alarm or other monitoring services". Calls beyond the 750 minutes are capped at £10 a month.

Already on BT Basic, at £5.16 with a £1.50 call allowance and calls capped at £10? Keep it, because BT stopped selling it in 2021. Home Phone Saver is less clear: BT's help page says it's no longer available for new sale, but an FAQ on its deals page still offers it at £23.86 a month with unlimited UK calls of up to an hour, on 18 months. Heavy callers should ask about it. For help with broadband costs, see our guide to social tariffs.

Is phone and broadband cheaper than a landline on its own?

Direct answer: Sometimes. On benefits, BT's Home Essentials plans with broadband and unlimited calls cost £15 or £16.50, only £5 to £6.50 more than Call Only. If you're not on benefits, it depends on your calls and what's on offer at your address, so compare before you sign.

Not everyone wants the internet, and everything in this guide works without it. But if someone in the family would use it, for video calls, the NHS App or banking, the gap can be small.

BT's Home Essentials terms list 36Mbps fibre with unlimited calls at £16.50 (the No Income plan), or 16Mbps at £15 where fibre isn't available. Ask BT which you qualify for.

Off benefits, it depends on your calls. A light caller on BT's discounted line pays £13.09 plus a few pounds, which is hard to beat. A heavy caller paying for unlimited calls should compare broadband deals with a landline at their postcode before signing.

Going the other way? BT warns that if you drop the landline for broadband only, "You won't be able to get your home phone number back", and anything plugged into the line stops working. Our guide to switching without a landline covers what you give up.

Will my landline and care alarm work in a power cut?

Direct answer: On BT's Home Phone Standard, yes, with a corded phone: it works just as it does today. Cordless handsets need mains power. Lines that plug into a hub, like Virgin Media's, stop in a power cut, so anyone who relies on the phone can ask for a free backup.

Because nothing changes in your home, BT says "if your phone works today in a power cut it will continue to". The caveat: "if you are using cordless handsets, these won't work", so keep a corded phone or a mobile.

Lines that plug into a hub stop in a power cut. Ofcom's guidance says providers should offer anyone who depends on their landline a free way to reach the emergency services for at least an hour. The government says many providers are going beyond that, with batteries that last four to seven hours.

Virgin Media offers an emergency backup line free to people who rely on a landline or don't have a mobile. Vodafone gives a battery unit free to landline-dependent customers and charges others £150. Our guide to Digital Voice in a power cut has more.

Got a care alarm or pendant? Tell your phone company now. Citizens Advice says you shouldn't be switched until your telecare and home phone providers are confident your personal alarm will work, and BT asks you to test any alarm once the work is done.

Openreach says it has safely upgraded more than 70,000 customers with telecare devices. Our guide to care alarms and the switch-off walks you through it.

Will I keep my phone number?

Direct answer: Yes. BT and Virgin Media keep your number when they move you to a digital line. On Home Phone Standard you'll dial the area code for every call. If you ever give the landline up, move the number first, because once it's gone you may not get it back.

BT's Home Phone Standard page says plainly: "You'll keep your existing phone number if you have one already". Virgin Media says the same for its customers. So Jean's number from 1979 is safe.

Numbers get lost when people cancel. BT warns that you won't be able to get your home phone number back. Ofcom says you can still ask to keep it for free even if you have already cancelled, within one month. Safest of all, move it before you cancel.

How long will a landline without broadband last?

Direct answer: BT's Home Phone Standard is a stop-gap, not forever. The government says interim landline services run until a digital option is available or 2030, whichever is sooner. There's nothing to do now: your provider should tell you before it moves you again.

The government calls these interim services, and says they work as today "until a digital solution becomes available or 2030, if that comes sooner". BT says they keep customers connected "until they're able to move over to Digital Voice or an alternative".

So expect one more change before 2030. Our view, not an announcement, is that it will probably be a fibre line with a small powered box. Your provider should tell you about the switchover in at least two different ways, and a family member can handle it for you.

Watch prices too. BT's promises to Ofcom on landline-only prices expired at the end of March 2026. Ofcom says this group is made up of "largely older customers" and that it will monitor BT's prices, so check your bill each April.

What happens if I do nothing before 31 January 2027?

Direct answer: Don't wait to find out. From 1 February 2027 Openreach can move lines still on the old network to EVAc, a temporary, limited and more expensive safety net, starting with voice-only lines. Answer your provider's letter, or ring them now if nobody has written.

Openreach calls EVAc "a limited, temporary, last-resort phone service designed strictly to maintain access to essential calls". It costs providers £35 a month before VAT at wholesale. ISPreview reports that home lines "won't face a hard disconnection" on 31 January, but EVAc isn't something to choose.

Most people have moved. Openreach counted roughly 2.8 million lines on the old network in February 2026, and about 1 million on 30 October, 300,000 of them businesses.

A quick clue: if your phone plugs into a broadband router, you're very likely digital already. If it plugs into the wall and you're not with BT, or nobody has written, ring whoever sends your phone bill.

Not sure if your landline has moved yet?

Answer a few quick questions and our free checker tells you whether your phone is likely to be affected by the switch-off, and what to do next.

Check your landline →

How do I spot a landline switchover scam?

Direct answer: Nobody genuine will ask you to pay to move to a digital landline. Citizens Advice says anyone asking for money to switch your phone line is a scammer, even if they know your name and address. Hang up and ring your provider on the number on your bill.

Citizens Advice says your home phone provider will never ask you to pay to switch to a digital phone line. Which? has reported callers posing as BT asking people to "confirm their personal and payment information", then threatening to cut them off. As Which? puts it, "The digital switchover does not involve any fees."

If you're suspicious, the Digital Phone Switchover campaign says to hang up and call the official company number. Action Fraud is now Report Fraud, run by the City of London Police on the same number, 0300 123 2040, and the old web address redirects.

For nuisance calls, BT says Call Protect "comes with our Digital Voice and Home Phone Standard service at no extra cost". Our guide to stopping nuisance calls covers the rest.

What should I do now?

Today: find the phone bill

Check it shows BT's Line Only Discount, or a social tariff. If no one at home has broadband and it doesn't, ring BT on 0800 587 0083.

Today: say if anyone relies on the phone

Tell your provider about a care alarm or a missing or weak mobile signal. Virgin Media also asks to hear from anyone over 75.

This week: check for a social tariff

On Pension Credit or Universal Credit? Ask BT for Home Essentials Call Only at £10. In Hull, KCOM's Voice only Flex is £5.10, with Universal Credit counting only if you have no earnings.

When the letter comes: follow it

Keep a corded phone, test any alarm afterwards, and add the area code to saved numbers. Don't pay anyone who calls asking for money to switch.

Would broadband for the family make sense too?

If someone in the home would use the internet, see what phone and broadband costs at your address before you sign a 12-month landline deal. If not, everything above works without it.

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  • ✓Your new provider handles the switch
Compare deals now →Check your landline

Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 0330 122 1223

In summary

  • You can keep a landline without broadband: BT, KCOM and Direct Save Telecom still sell one on its own.
  • BT moves landline-only customers to Home Phone Standard free: same number, phone and price, no new box. You just dial the area code.
  • BT's line costs £13.09 a month with the Line Only Discount, or £31.20 without it. Make sure your bill shows it.
  • On Pension Credit or Universal Credit, BT's Call Only plan is £10 with unlimited UK calls. In Hull, KCOM's Voice only Flex is £5.10 for those who qualify.
  • Keep a corded phone for power cuts, tell your provider about any care alarm, and never pay anyone who calls asking for money to switch.

Alex's closing thought

A lot of the calls we take about the switch-off come from sons and daughters, worried that Mum's phone will stop working or that she'll be pushed into broadband she'll never use. Neither has to happen. A landline on its own is still there, the move is free, and on BT's Home Phone Standard the phone in the hall carries on just as it does today. If you do one thing, check the bill shows the Line Only Discount or a social tariff, because that's where people overpay. And if you'd like a hand working out the cheapest option, ring us. That's what we're here for.

Keep going: the guides behind this post

Know someone who only uses a landline?

Send them this, or send it to whoever helps with their bills. It explains how to keep the phone without paying for the internet.

Cite this page

You're welcome to quote or link to this guide. Please credit BroadbandSwitch.uk and link to this page.

In a sentence: You can keep a UK landline without broadband after the 31 January 2027 switch-off: BT moves landline-only customers to Home Phone Standard at no extra cost and sells the line from £13.09 a month with its Line Only Discount, or £10 with unlimited calls on its Home Essentials social tariff, while KCOM offers landline-only service in Hull from £5.10 on benefits.

Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, November 2). Can I have a landline without broadband? Yes, here's how. BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/landline-without-broadband/

Frequently asked questions

Do I need broadband for a digital landline?

No. A digital line needs a tiny data connection to carry calls, but your provider supplies it, and Ofcom says you shouldn't pay extra for it if you don't take broadband. BT's Home Phone Standard does the digital part at the exchange, so nothing changes in your home.

What is BT Home Phone Standard?

It's the digital landline BT gives customers without broadband. It keeps your wiring, wall socket, phone and number, and converts calls to digital at the exchange. BT says it costs no more, needs no new equipment and works in a power cut with a corded phone.

How much is BT line rental without broadband?

£31.20 a month at standard price, less the £18.11 Line Only Discount if no one in the home has broadband from any provider, leaving £13.09. Calls cost 24.93p a minute on the discount. Paper bills are free for discounted landline-only customers.

Can I get a new landline without broadband?

Yes. BT takes orders by phone on 0800 587 0083, KCOM sells phone-only lines in Hull, and Direct Save Telecom sells line rental too. BT charges £140 to install a new line, £70 to take over a working one and nothing if you're moving home.

Does Virgin Media do landline only?

For existing customers, yes. Virgin Media says landline-only customers won't need to add broadband or TV, and it fits a Hub for the phone at no extra cost. We found no landline-only product for new customers on its website on 2 November 2026.

Is BT Basic still available?

Not to new customers. BT stopped selling BT Basic in June 2021. If you have it, it's £5.16 a month including a £1.50 call allowance, with calls capped at £10, so keep it. BT Home Essentials Call Only at £10 is the current social tariff for new customers.

What's the cheapest landline for pensioners?

If you get Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), BT's Home Essentials Call Only at £10 a month with unlimited UK calls. In Hull, KCOM's Voice only Flex at £5.10, which also accepts Attendance Allowance. Without those benefits, BT's discounted line at £13.09 plus calls.

Will a cordless phone work in a power cut?

No. A cordless phone's base station needs mains power on any type of line. On BT's Home Phone Standard a corded phone carries on working in a power cut, so it's worth keeping one plugged in or in a drawer.

Can I keep my number if I give up my landline?

Move it before you cancel if you can. BT warns broadband-only customers they won't get the number back. Ofcom says you can still ask a new provider to take it over for free within one month of cancelling.

Do I get nuisance call blocking without broadband?

Yes, with BT. BT says Call Protect comes with Home Phone Standard at no extra cost, and that it detects and blocks spam and fraud calls without blocking your important calls.

What is EVAc?

Openreach's Emergency Voice Access, a temporary, last-resort service for lines still on the old network after 31 January 2027. Moves begin with voice-only lines from 1 February 2027. It costs providers £35 a month before VAT at wholesale, and you can't choose it.

Are landlines being phased out?

The old analogue network is, but landlines aren't. The government says nobody has to lose their landline, and the Telephony Universal Service Obligation means everyone can still get one. Calls simply move onto digital technology.

References

Written by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith, Founder of BroadbandSwitch.uk (LinkedIn). Reviewed by Adrian James, Broadband Editor at BroadbandSwitch.uk (LinkedIn). Published 2 November 2026. Jean is an illustrative example built from the calls we take, not a real customer. Prices were read on each provider's own pages and price guide on 2 November 2026. We will update this post when BT, KCOM or Ofcom change landline-only prices or rules. What's changed: 2 November 2026, first published. BroadbandSwitch.uk is an independent comparison site and is not a broadband provider. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Corrections are logged publicly.

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