How to Get High-Speed Internet Without Phone Line

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Without cable TV or home phone service, you can get standalone internet service. That holds true for all major internet connections, including fiber, DSL, satellite, fixed wireless, and even cable (more on that later).

Smartphone tethering, wireless hotspots, and good ol' free public Wi-Fi are among the less conventional solutions available. Continue reading to learn how to get internet without a TV or a home phone.

Internet via fiber-optic cable

Fiber internet is the quickest and most dependable link available, and it's also the only one that provides comparable download and upload speeds. It's one flaw is that it isn't always available—your neighbor might be able to get fiber, but you might not.

We suggest the following fiber internet plans from providers that don't serve up any extras.

VIEW FIBER-OPTIC PROVIDERS

Internet via satellite

While satellite internet is the slowest and least secure option, it may be the only option for people living in rural areas.

Viasat and are the two largest satellite internet providers.

VIEW SATELLITE PROVIDERS

Internet via cable (minus the cable TV)

Take a deep breath. Aren't we trying to stay away from the c-word? Yes, but there's also cable television and cable internet access.

Cable internet is one of the best internet options—faster it's and more dependable than DSL or satellite, and it's available without needing the purchase of a phone or cable TV subscription.

VIEW CABLE PLANS

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet

DSL is slower and less secure than cable or fiber internet, but it is more commonly accessible. DSL internet does not need a landline with phone service, but you will need to use your home's phone jack.

We've mentioned DSL providers below, along with information on how to get our recommended internet plans from each, as well as relevant statistics.

VIEW DSL PROVIDERS

Internet with a fixed wireless link

Fixed-wireless transmitters can be located in most cities. Consider them mini-cell towers that broadcast Wi-Fi signals in all directions.

They belong to internet service providers you may not have heard of, but the signals are much stronger than 4G—as long as you're in direct line of sight to the transmitter, with no mountains or skyscrapers in the way.

VIEW FIXED WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDERS

Hotspots for cell phones

Did you know that your smartphone can act as a wireless hotspot? It's known as tethering, and it's a perfect way to provide a safe Wi-Fi connection.

Only if tethering is included in your cell plan will you be able to do this, so consult with your provider first.

To switch tethering on or off, follow these steps:

Personal Hotspot or Cellular>Personal Hotspot on iOS. Then, under Allow Others to Enter, press Allow Others to Connect and follow the on-screen instructions to connect.

Android is a mobile operating system that runs on a variety of devices. Look under Settings for a search bar, then type in keywords like "hotspot" or "tethering" and you should be ready to go in a few clicks.

If you don't already have limitless bandwidth, tethering will eat up your data (and drain your battery).

Wireless hotspots are available from certain internet providers, such as Cox and Spectrum. You can use your at-home internet credentials to reach hotspots if your provider provides them.

Internet access is available for free in public places.

While free Wi-Fi from places like coffee shops, hotels, and public libraries isn't always reliable or safe, it's better than nothing. Isolation works if you park near the buildings and don't leave your car running during the pandemic.

Streaming television for free

Are you thinking of canceling your cable TV subscription to save some money per month? These free live streaming TV providers still have plenty of tasty, mind-rotting eye candy to offer:

Xfinity Flex: Free streaming device and service with tons of live and on-demand content—but it’s only for Xfinity internet customers

Try an over-the-air (OTA) antenna if you want local channels. They're cheap (the Mohu Leaf 50 costs about $58 on Amazon), and they pick up all of your local network affiliates as well as a slew of other free channels—all without any monthly fees.

Conclusion

You have options for whatever reasons you want to purchase internet service—and only internet service. It's more important than ever to have those.

We recommend going with Xfinity if it's available in your region. It has a 1 TB data limit and cable speeds ranging from 25 to 1,000 Mbps. It also has a superfast fiber plan (Gigabit Pro gets up to 2,000 Mbps) that hardcore gamers and streamers would love—if they can afford the $299.95 per month price tag.

The XFi Gateway modem/router combination from Xfinity is also one of our favorites. Getting just Xfinity internet service also qualifies you for Xfinity Flex, the company's free streaming device and service. Flex is a perfect alternative to cable TV because it offers a lot of live and on-demand content.