How to Get Internet without a Phone Line or Cable

If you don’t have (or want) a physical cable connecting your home to the internet, you can still connect with a wireless internet connection. There are plenty of different options, including fixed wireless, 5G home internet, mobile hotspots, and satellite. Each  has its pros and cons, so we’re here to walk you through them so you can find the solution that works for you.

Rural internet options

People living in rural areas often have the most to gain from going with a wireless internet provider. Providers with large cable or fiber networks often don’t extend their infrastructure into areas with fewer people. This means that installing a line to the nearest network can be incredibly expensive—and in many areas, it isn’t even an option.

Traditional fixed wireless

Fixed wireless internet transmits a signal straight from a communication tower to a receiver in your home. Fixed wireless is one of the fastest types of wireless connection, but it’s not a very widespread technology. Many fixed wireless providers are local companies, so it’s a good idea to look beyond the usual nationwide providers to see if a smaller provider covers your area.

Satellite internet

Satellite is by far the most widely available type of wireless connection out there. No matter how remote your location is, you can still connect to satellite internet as long as you have a clear view of the southern sky.

Satellite internet also has several downsides. Most satellite plans have very restrictive data limits and high latency. That can make activities like online games and video chat difficult or impossible. Hughesnet has attempted to address the latency issue with its Hughesnet Fusion plans. Hughesnet Fusion combines satellite and terrestrial wireless connections into a single connection. With some additional equipment, it will correctly route your connection over satellite or wireless, giving you low latency when you need it, though other issues associated with  satellite internet, such as low speeds and data caps, could still be an issue.

New developments in low-Earth orbit satellite technology, pioneered by Starlink and OneWeb, could significantly mitigate these problems. Although these new satellite services have a lot of potential, they all—including Starlink—are struggling to scale their operations up to be a reliable, nationwide internet service provider. As a general rule, you shouldn’t rely on satellite internet unless it’s your only option.

5G home internet

5G home internet uses cellular technology to connect you to the internet, and it has several advantages over the previous generation. It will be up to ten times faster than 4G (and even faster when compared to some 4G LTE connections). 5G will also have incredibly low latency compared to other wireless technologies, making it excellent for online games and video chat. It’s also well-suited to deal with high volumes of traffic that often cause older connections like cable to slow down at peak hours.

The biggest players in home 5G are mobile wireless companies like Verizon and T-Mobile. These companies are already upgrading their infrastructure for their mobile customers, which will also give them the opportunity to expand their home internet coverage. AT&T also recently launched its own 5G home service, Internet Air, but it’s mostly meant for former DSL customers who can’t get their copper connections anymore.

Each provider is growing its 5G network by building new towers, but this internet type even works where 5G isn’t yet available. If that’s the case, your gateway will rely on 4G LTE internet instead.

Fiber

If you don’t have a phone line or cable but are considering installing a wired connection, you should definitely go for fiber. Fiber is the fastest and most reliable way to connect to the internet. Fiber plans are also comparable in price to many cable plans while offering much better performance.

Fixed wireless

Fixed wireless connections can be good options in the city, just as they are in rural areas. It’s more common in urban and suburban areas than it is farther away from city centers and can often fill in the coverage gaps within a city. That means if you live in the part of town between two major providers’ coverage areas, a fixed wireless provider might give you the speed you’re looking for instead of settling for slower options.

More flexible options

Wireless internet gives you a lot of options, but some people need even more flexibility. If you travel frequently or live in an RV, you might want to take your internet connection with you.

The easiest way to do this is simply to use your cell phone as a mobile hotspot. This will allow laptops and other devices to connect to the internet via your phone, using the data on your phone plan. A better long-term option is to buy a dedicated mobile hotspot.

Mobile hotspots work similarly to 4G home internet, but they don’t have to stay in one place. You can use them anywhere your plan gets service. The tradeoff is that these plans typically cost much more per month than a similar 4G home internet plan would, so make sure you need the added flexibility before you buy one.

How to choose

Each type of connection has its pros and cons, but availability is the big one. There’s not much you can do if you don’t have access to many options where you live. Beyond that, it’s much more of a give and take. The best type of internet depends on what’s most important to you.

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