Do I need a landline phone in 2025?

Do most people really need a landline phone in 2025? You are likely part of the 85% of UK residents who no longer use their landline phone regularly. 

Between the ubiquity of mobile phones and the rise of online voice and video calling, landline phones might seem completely outdated. However, there are some homes that still rely on a landline phone. 

How much does a landline cost?

It’s become very uncommon to have a landline phone service at home that isn’t also bundled with your internet service, so estimating the standalone cost is difficult. However, some landline phone services can charge customers up to 20p a minute to make calls. 

The cost of landline phone calls drops significantly when using a VOIP (voice over internet protocol). As of 2027, all UK home phones will be required to switch to this technology as the existing landline phone networks are phased out. 

One supplier, BT, has committed to providing a landline-only service until at least 2030. The phone line starts from £30.20 a month – more expensive than an entry-level internet package with phone calls included. Therefore, for most people, a combined broadband and phone package is a much better deal. 

Can I get broadband without a landline?

You might think that you need a landline in order to have a working internet connection. However, this is no longer the case.

Early UK internet infrastructure used the same copper cabling as phone lines. This was known as DSL or ADSL broadband. Phone lines and internet packages were bundled together, with most suppliers charging a line rental fee as part of their telecoms packages. 

Today, almost 70% of UK homes have access to full fibre broadband. This number is expected to continue to rise as major internet companies expand their networks and smaller, independent suppliers target traditionally underserved areas. 

Full fibre internet uses internet-specific infrastructure of fibre optic cables to deliver higher speeds and reliability. 98% of properties have superfast fibre available, which uses the phone line only for the final part of the network. 

Some homes might still need a landline 

Despite the drop in landline use, some households do still rely on the technology. This might be you if:

• You have a telecare device or pendant alarm, such as a fall alarm that uses your landline network
• Your home security system connects to the operator via your landline
• You live in an area with poor mobile reception and broadband service
• Your area has regular power cuts, as traditional landlines don’t require mains power to make calls

If you or a loved one falls under one of these categories, support is available to help make the switch to a digital landline. 

Are landline phones dying out?

Landline phones are certainly less popular than they were twenty, or even ten years ago. Internet provider Zen found that only around half (52%) of UK homes have a landline, and only 15% of households use it regularly. 

In 2027, we will likely see a big change in how many homes have a landline phone. That’s because the technology behind landlines is changing to VOIP, which relies on an internet connection. 

With the UK public being forced to choose if they want to update their home phones or simply disconnect them, it’s likely we’ll see millions more homes cut the cord for good.