Why do fibre optic internet services charge for 'line rental'?

CazGreg

Afternoon.

I'm trying to find a purely fibre optic/cable internet-only deal. No landline.

Yet all the packages I can find (the cheaper ones, anyway) make a monthly 'line rental' charge. What is that? I thought that would only come with a deal with a landline? This is even when I search for 'without landline' deals.

It is frustrating me that I can only find packages that charge say £15 for the internet and £15 for 'line rental' a month - why can't I use my £30 ONLY for internet?! :mad:

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

It's usually not fibre-all-the-way to your house. Google FTTC. The last few metres are via a telephone line.

Unless you're in a Virgin Media cabled area where you can do it the way you want.

Cycrow

The only broadband that doesn't use a landline is with Virgin.

any others still require the landline, as thats how they deliver it to your house, the fibre part of network is to the cabinet, then travels down the phone line the rest of the way

You can get fibre directly to your home (FTTH) but its limited to certain areas and is expensive

CazGreg

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

mije1983

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

I don't think you comment about Virgin Media is accurate. If you are outside a large city it's usually pot luck if you can get it or not. I would hazard a guess that it's not much more than half the country that have access.

For example, I live just outside a city in Hertfordshire and part of my street can get it but the top half can't. My parents near Oxford can't get it, and some friends I have in Milton Keynes can't get it either.

I'm confused though. If you know that many other providers offer it, and it isn't expensive, why are you asking for help on here? It seems you know all the information you need and your next job is comparing the ones that you know aren't expensive.

JJ_Egan

Very inaccurate re Virgin .

VisionMan

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

Sorry, but thats not accurate. VM broadband covers approx 45% of the UK and satellite BB on say a 20GB package starts around(ish) £200+ for the eqpt and £35(ish) a mth. And Unlimited Sat BB starts at around £70 a mth.

Just pay the line rental.

molerat

Certainly no VM fibre within a 70 mile radius of my house, not even FTTC available to me yet. There are still people who can not get any internet, not even dial up or mobile dongle and satellite is not really an affordable option with a £200 initial charge and £35 pm for a similar speed but capped service that I get for £2.50 pm.

Retrogamer

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

What other ISP's offer cable broadband in the UK without line rental?

Gordon_Hose

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

In bold, I'd be interested to hear which ISP other than virgin, offer fibre optic broadband without a landline?

I would also be interested to know who told you "almost all" of the UK is cabled by Virgin?

shiprob195

CazGreg wrote: »

Thanks guys ... but not really accurate, since a) almost allthe UK is now cabled by Virgin
and b) many other providers now offer cable (and indeedsatellite) internet that doesn't use landlines, it isn't just Virgin.
Also, it is no longer more expensive.
Can anyone else help?

I live in a suburb of a very large East Midlands city. My house is on a main road. One side is cabled. The side I live on is not.