Can You Get High Speed Internet without a Phone Line?

Wondering if it’s possible to get a high-speed Internet connection for your home if you don’t have a home phone line.

We know this is an important consideration for the growing number people who rely exclusively on their cell phones and are dropping home phone service.

Well, at EarthLink, the answer turns out to be yes, yes and yes!

That’s because we offer three different kinds of broadband Internet services that don’t require that you also pay for a phone line.

People who choose a high-speed Internet service that doesn’t require an active phone line can cancel can cancel their home phone and save an average of almost $240 a year.

High Speed Cable without a Phone Line
The high-speed service that’s probably most obviously independent of a phone line is cable Internet access.

With EarthLink Cable Internet, your high-speed Internet service is delivered over the same coaxial cables that cable TV uses.

To get EarthLink Cable Internet, you don’t actually have to have cable TV, you just need to be in a serviceable area. You can check pricing and availability on the cable Internet page our website.

When you check service availability, you’ll also see which speeds are available in your area. Our most popular cable Internet plans provide speeds that range from 3Mbps to 15Mbps (that’s from 55x to 250x the speed of dial-up).

EarthLink has been a leading cable Internet service provider since 1997.

High Speed DSL without a Phone Line
Regular DSL Internet service is a “shared line” service, meaning the Internet service is delivered over the same copper phone line that your phone calls use, and it requires an active phone line. Our Freestanding DSL (it’s also called Dry Loop DSL) works in a different way and doesn’t require an active phone line.

Though behind the scenes Freestanding DSL works differently, it delivers the same broadband speed as regular DSL, up to 7Mbps (100x faster than dial-up), plus the same additional benefits.

Availability of Freestanding DSL is more limited than our regular DSL: it is only available in areas covered by Verizon.

From the  Freestanding DSL page on our website, enter your phone number (if you have one), street address and zip code to confirm if it is available where you live.

EarthLink has been a leading high-speed DSL Internet service provider since 1999.

High Speed Satellite Internet without a Phone Line
Satellite is the third type of high-speed Internet access we offer that doesn’t require a phone line.

EarthLink Satellite Internet, which we offer in partnership with HughesNet, still isn’t yet as popular as our other high-speed Internet services, but it’s becoming a much more attractive option.

Previously, satellite was the best choice only for homes in rural areas that weren’t served by any Cable or DSL Internet services, because speeds were slower and costs were a bit higher. That’s no longer true.

Now with HughesNet’s Gen4, you can get 2-way satellite Internet service with speeds from 10Mbps to 15Mbps (175x to 25x faster than dial-up). And HughesNet is the nation’s #1 choice for satellite Internet.

To see if satellite Internet might be right for you, go to the satellite Internet page on our website and click either Learn More or Get Started.

Let us know your experience without a home phone … or why you want to hold on to yours.

DSL Modem Setup: How to Get Started with EarthLink DSL

In addition to the blazing-fast, reliable high-speed Internet access, one of the extra benefits you get when you sign up for EarthLink DSL Internet service is a free DSL modem.DSL modem setup - how to install your high-speed DSL service

Even if you’re not confident with technology, it’s actually very easy to get your DSL modem set up with the free self-installation kit we send you.

I’ll provide a basic overview here, so you’ll know what to expect. You could also look back at this setup information if you ever need to reinstall your modem in a different spot in your home.

DSL Setup Steps

  1. Install the Dual-Jack Filter. Unplug your phone from the wall jack nearest to your computer and then plug the dual filter into that phone jack. Plug your phone into the phone jack of the dual-jack filter (where you see the phone icon). Leave the second jack on the filter empty for now.
  2. Plug in the Single-Jack Filters. You need to install single-jack filters for everything in your home that is plugging into a wall jack. Unplug any additional phones, fax machines, Tivo, and other devices you may have in other wall jacks, plug in the single-jack filters, and then plug the devices back into the filter.
  3. Plug in the Modem. First, make sure you have a surge protector plugged into a wall socket. Then plug the power brick for the DSL modem into your surge protector, and plug the power cord into the back of the DSL modem. Turn the surge protector on first, and then turn on the DSL modem by pressing the power button on the back. The power light will come on and other lights will blink and glow.
  4. Connect the phone cable. Plug one end of the included gray phone cord into the gray side of the dual-jack filter you installed in step 1. Plug the other end of the phone cord into the DSL modem’s gray DSL port.
  5.  Connect the Ethernet cable. Plug one end of the yellow Ethernet cable into your computer’s Ethernet port and the other end into the DSL modem’s yellow Ethernet port.

To watch an animation showing these DSL setup steps, click here.

Enjoy your high-speed DSL Internet access.

Which Internet Connection Are You?

Like favorite colors, everyone has an internet connection that fits them best.  Find out which connection YOU are with this fun guide:

You are DIAL-UP if…
…you want internet that is basic, universal, and inexpensive.  Dial-upinternet is a good choice for basic web users.  It isn’t the fastest internet connection available (though EarthLink does provide a free dial-up accelerator that lets you surf up to 7x faster than regular 56K dial-up), but it can be installed into any home in America with a phone line.  And it’s incredibly cost-effective: Prices are as low as $9.95/mo for the first three months!

You are DSL if…
…you need a reliable connection, but require more speed than dial-up (to watch a lot of videos, stream content, etc). DSL internet is up to 100x faster than dial-up access, and is perfect for those who spend a lot of time online.  With low pricing like $14.95/mo for the first three months, it’s also a great value!

You are CABLE if…
…you like to spend a lot of time downloading/uploading content, streaming full-length movies, playing detailed online games, (etc.). Though offers vary by location, a cable internet connection can start at only $29.95/mo, and can be up to 250x faster than dial-up access.  It’s a great solution for people who feel the need for online speed!

(NOTE: if you live in a rural area that doesn’t have access to cable or DSL, but desire more speed than dial-up, EarthLink offers satellite internet to make sure your needs get met!)

Happy Birthday: The Internet Turns 21!

The Internet (as we know it) is now 21. The internet has it’s beginnings farther back…systems that allowed computers to communicate with each other have been developed since the late 60s. But it wasn’t until 1991 that the Internet as we know it was born.

The Internet was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee (now a Google employee). He launched the first public Web page that detailed what he called the “World Wide Web.”  Originally the internet was intended to facilitate communication between researchers, but it has grown into a portal for mass communication, news and entertainment, and it offered in both the “original” dial-up as well as high-speed and wireless options!

So take a moment and think about wishing the internet a happy birthday!