UK Broadband Users Could Save Millions by Ditching Landlines, Study Claims

Majority of Landline Users Don’t Use Service Regularly

A new study suggests that UK broadband users could collectively save over £61 million per month by dropping their landline phone service and switching to a broadband-only package. The research, conducted by comparison site Go.Compare, found that while 41% of UK adults have a landline, the vast majority (92%) get it bundled with their broadband service. However, only 24% of these landline subscribers say they actually use their home phone regularly.

£4 Per Month Savings Possible for Infrequent Users

On average, Brits pay around £27 monthly for broadband service. But standalone broadband packages without a phone line cost nearly £50 less annually, or about £4 per month, compared to bundles including a landline. The study estimates that the 21.4 million UK adults who have a landline but don’t use it much are spending £611.8 million each month on these packages. Switching to a no-landline deal could save them £61.16 million total monthly, or £49.27 per person annually.

Many Keep Landlines as Backup or for Other Reasons

“I’ve had my landline for decades and like keeping the same number, even though I rarely use it these days except for the occasional call from older relatives,” said Janet Hughes, 62, a retired teacher in Leeds. “It’s nice to have as a backup option to my mobile.”

Others, like 71-year-old widow Margaret Byrne of rural Devon, retain a landline because mobile coverage is spotty where they live. “The signal here is so unreliable that I feel I need to keep the landline for emergencies or if my mobile isn’t working properly,” Byrne explained. “I know it costs a bit extra but it gives me peace of mind.”

Just 13% Plan to Cut the Cord in Next Year

Despite the potential savings, the survey found that only about 2.7 million people, or 13% of landline subscribers, intend to cancel their home phone service in the next 12 months. Reasons for hanging on include maintaining a longtime family number, keeping it as an alternate to mobile, and having a reliable line for telecare services. Less tech-savvy users may also feel more comfortable sticking with a traditional landline.

FTTP Transition Could Spur Some Landline Cancellations

As more homes switch from copper-based broadband to faster full fibre (FTTP) services, it presents an opportunity to split the old bundle and move the landline to a cheaper VoIP platform while getting broadband separately. But this requires some technical know-how to set up. In the end, ditching the landline remains an individual choice, and with monthly savings averaging just £4, many feel it’s worth keeping for the benefits and flexibility it provides.