5G - the end of the landline?

“Please provide your home phone number”. It’s a stumbling block anyone who grew up with a mobile phone has had to struggle with every time they are filling in application forms or a contract. Landlines are a relict of the pre-mobile era; even back when the internet was “new” the primary use of the landline was to connect the modem for dial-up access.

The main gripe many have with this requirement, for contract validation or for the installation of an internet connection, is that they are being forced to pay for a service, the primary purpose of which (making and receiving home phone calls) is never used, and is simply a means to opening the door to other services such as subscription based tv, internet access, etc.

This irritating hurdle users are facing is only added to on the other side of the fence, where service providers of landline based internet have been facing the advent of “super fast” mobile networks, first with 3G, followed by 4 and now 5G. In many cases the existing internet packages are not keeping up with the data available on a mobile phone contracts, which have no fixed line and often no other add on costs required.

It seems only natural for ”Gen-Z” - who routinely shun paid-for, ”traditional” media in favour of streaming (legal or otherwise) - to also opt to dump these outdated hardwired services for something more aligned to their dynamic and modern lifestyles.

So this begs the question, what will become of these providers, how will they react to this change in technology? Well perhaps the wheels are already in motion to safeguard their customer base as many of these companies offer mobile phone packages alongside the traditional “internet and cable/satellite television” offerings, but without accepting the death of the landline and looking to completely reinvent their existing infrastructure they will always be at risk of being pipped to the post by other younger and more agile players entering the game.