In 2021, 98% of Americans ages 30 to 49 used the internet. Eighty-eight percent of teenagers had access to a desktop computer or laptop, and over 93% of teenagers had a smart phone. The Norman family is no exception. Sarah Norman, a mom of two and small business owner, spends at least eight hours a day running her business from a laptop. She needs more bandwidth to power all the devices in her household, but an internet speed upgrade isn’t available at her address.

A second internet line might be the ideal solution for Sarah and her family. It can allow her to dedicate one line to her work from home needs, while she uses the second line for everything else. Keep reading to learn how to get a second internet line.

Ways to use a second internet line

Person using a laptop on their second internet line

You might be wondering why you would need a second internet line. If you need more speed, especially if you live in an area with limited internet speed plans available, a second line might be a great option for you. Working from home? Keep your work life and your personal life separated with two different lines. Once you’re done with work for the day, simply log off of your business line and easily connect to your personal line.

You can also use a second line if you:

  • Work or school from home
  • Game
  • Stream
  • Have roommates (or teenagers)

With a second internet line, you can game without sharing bandwidth with other activities for top performance. While working or going to school from home, you can keep other devices connected on the separate line. Or dedicate a line to streaming your favorite shows and movies anytime with reduced buffering. You could even get a separate line for different housemates, so you don’t have to worry about how much bandwidth your roomie is using.

How a second internet line works in real-time

Man working from home on a second internet line

With a second internet line, Sarah Norman is able to separate her work life from her home life. Sarah’s husband has a hybrid job, meaning he works from the office three days a week. On Thursdays and Fridays, he uses the family’s second internet line to stay in the loop at work.

On the other hand, the Norman kids use most of the family’s bandwidth. Between online classes, streaming movies and video games, and staying in touch with their friends over the summer, a second internet line is a game-changer.

How do I add a second internet line?

Person writing in a notebook and using a laptop

To order a second internet line, contact us. A customer care agent will review the requirements and your options.

It’s important to note that a second internet line requires a technician installation and a separate modem. Some account types are not eligible for a second line, including:

  • Those with pair-bonded service
  • Those with plan speeds up to 40 Mbps (Speed may not be available in your area.)

When you contact CenturyLink to inquire, the agent will be able to tell you if these types apply to you or not. If you sign up for a second internet line, it will be on a separate account with its own separate bill. But not to worry—it’s easy to manage multiple accounts on My CenturyLink with one sign-in.

Other ways to speed up your internet

Looking for other solutions to fix a slow internet connection? Learn more about what impacts internet speed. You can also read more articles to understand internet speed and WiFi. If your internet service is fine but you’re experiencing slower speeds over a wireless connection, try optimizing your WiFi setup, or find out if a WiFi extender could help.

Emily Richey is the Content Manager for the CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber blogs. A recent graduate of Pace University NYC, she's an avid reader and writer. She spends most of her free time in bookstores and cafes, seeking the perfect cup of coffee.