The answer is no. Mostly. There are, however, some instances in which you will need a landline before you can have high-speed broadband service. You also need to ask yourself if it makes sense to get rid of your landline if find you're not using it. And if you don't already have one, is there any reason why you might need what some view as legacy technology?
This under-8-minute read answers all these questions and more. When you're done, you'll have all the information you need to decide if you're ready to go landline free.
Which kinds of broadband don't require a landline?
There are five main broadband options in Ireland if you want to go landline free:
- Fibre optic broadband
- Mobile broadband
- Fixed wireless (line of sight) broadband
- Cable (part fibre) broadband
- Satellite broadband
1. Fibre optic broadband
If it's available in your area, this is a great option. It's the fastest option available in Ireland today and as long as it is full fibre all the way to your home or premises, you won't need to upgrade for years to come.
Speeds typically reach up to 1Gps with as much as 10Gps to come in the future. No copper wire landline-based service comes close.
The pros
- Super fast
- Robust and reliable
- Future-proofed for increased data needs
- Perfect for gamers and large numbers of devices
- No landline required
The cons
- May not be available yet in your area
- There may be an installation fee
- More expensive than other cable options
How fast is it?
The range is typically from 100Mbps up to a potential 1Gps. Future speeds of up to 10Gbps are built into the main Irish fibre optic network.
Compare the best fibre broadband deals in Ireland.
2. Mobile broadband
This is a great option if you are on the road a lot and don't need a landline or broadband service to your home. It uses the existing mobile network that will tend to only get faster over time as the country shifts to full 5G and ultimately faster generations of mobile technology.
As long as you have a reliable mobile signal, this is a great option. It's not cheap however and can add up to significant additional costs over time.
The pros
- No lengthy contracts
- Zero upfront or installation costs
- Requires only a small dongle attachment or data-only SIM card
- Perfect for digital nomads and frequent travelers
- Mobile phone coverage is generally excellent
- No landline required
The cons
- Only works where your mobile signal does
- Expensive when used as a long-term solution
How fast is it?
4G networks reach up to 10Mbps while 5G networks can be as high as 50Gps.
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3. Fixed wireless (line of sight) broadband
This solution is excellent for remote areas where there may be no landline currently installed or available. The broadband provider delivers the service directly to a receiver on the property via radio wave transmission.
The pros
- No network or cables required
- Can be relatively high speed compared to other options
- Typically very low latency for an improved browsing experience
- Great solution for those living in remote areas
- No landline required
The cons
- Not usually available in built-up areas
- Requires a direct line of sight between transmitter and receiver
- Requires specialist installation
- There may be an installation fee
- Typically less competition to choose from
- Not future-proofed for increased data needs
How fast is it?
Typical speeds range from 10Mbps up to 1Gbps.
4. Cable (part fibre) broadband
Part fibre uses the fibre optic network to deliver broadband to the local ‘cabinet' serving your area. The last step to your home or premises is bridged using coaxial cable or standard phone line copper wire.
The pros
- Relatively fast
- Robust and reliable
- Middle-range pricing between full fibre and ADSL
- Typically no landline required
The cons
- Not as fast as full fibre broadband or some fixed wireless
- May not be available in your area yet
- There may be a set-up fee
- May require a landline
- Not future-proofed for increased data needs
How fast is it?
Download speeds typically reach up to 100Mbps.
5. Satellite broadband
Your broadband service is beamed directly to your satellite dish from the sky. This is a great option for remote and rural areas but isn't available everywhere.
The pros
- A great option for remote locations
- Possible solution where even fixed wireless is not an option
- Immune to outages on the cable network
- Relatively inexpensive
- Relatively good speed
- No landline required
The cons
- May have latency issues
- Dish installation required with possible fee
- Reception quality affected by weather conditions
- Bundles may have built-in download limits
- Potential charges for excess data usage
How fast is it?
Speeds typically range between 20Mbps and 75Mbps.
Which kinds of broadband require a landline?
Your provider may only have landline-based service in your area. This typically means ADSL or ADSL2+ broadband. This is an older technology that uses your copper wire phone line to deliver digital information in addition to the analogue signal of your telephone.
As the national fibre optic network rolls out across the country this technology will eventually become obsolete.
The pros
- An ideal solution in rural areas
- The most affordable option
- Robust and reliable
- Uses your existing landline (no installation required)
Cons
- Requires a landline for installation
- Limited speed
- Distance from the exchange degrades the signal quality
- Latency and contention ratios can be a problem
- Not future-proofed for increased data needs
How fast is it?
This technology typically provides speeds of between 6Mbps and 40Mbps in Ireland.
Check out the full range of broadband options in Ireland.
Should I get rid of my landline?
It's free to cancel your landline but you should make sure you are out of contract or you will be billed all of your monthly charges for the remaining term of the contract. You can have the connection physically removed, but there is a fee for this. It also means that if you change your mind you will have to pay to have the line reconnected.
Ultimately this is a personal decision. If you haven't used your landline in years then yes, you could save money on your monthly line rental. It's as easy as calling up your provider and telling them you no longer need the service.
Why would I keep my landline?
Again, it's personal, but some of the benefits of having a landline include:
- Backup/redundancy: it's your backup line in case mobile service is interrupted.
- Free local calls: most landline contracts include free local calls. Make sure that you won't be paying more for these if you plan to use your mobile phone instead.
- Quality of service: if you live in an area with a poor mobile signal, it may be worth it to have the reliability of a landline, especially if you work from home.
- Low-cost broadband: if your broadband needs are minimal you'll get all you need and pay less with ADSL/ADSL2+
- Everyone knows your number: it can be a hassle to change that number, especially if it's been used as your primary contact number for a long time.
Are you ready to compare and find your next great deal?
Compare the full range of landline-free and ADSL broadband deals in Ireland. Check out our handy FAQ page if you've still got more questions or drop us a line on our contact page.