The end of the Landline
Telecoms experts are predicting the death of the landline as figures show their use is plummeting, as demand for mobile technology booms.
The cost of mobile calls dropped 47% between 2003 and 2008, while that of landlines fell by only 18%, according to Ofcom, the regulator. The average mobile bill, at £16.71 a month, is now lower than the average landline bill at £21.57.
Mobile operators are becoming increasingly competitive. Many broadband firms place a requirement for a landline for their home internet services, but it is possible to get a broadband and phone service without a landline. But there is a number of ways to ditch the landline and still get broadband.
Fixed Line Broadband tends to give the fastest home internet connection, and almost all providers require a landline, which costs about £11 a month. However, Virgin Media uses a fibre optic network which provides broadband without the need for a landline telephone. A 10Mb broadband deal will cost £20 a month or a “bundle” that includes broadband and a landline is £25 a month. Only half the country is covered by Virgin, so for many people — particularly those in rural areas — this is not an option.
Mobile Broadband is an alternative is to use a “dongle”, which provides access to the internet via the 3G mobile network. Only 3% of households use a mobile dongle as their sole access to the internet, according to Ofcom, but the take-up is rising rapidly.
Pay-as-you-go deals from 3 and T-Mobile cost as little as £20 a month for 1GB of downloads — which is adequate for anyone wishing to write and browse e-mails. Signing up to a contract can cut costs even further. For example, 3 charges only £10 a month for up to 1GB of downloads if an 18-month contract is signed.
About 12% of households have a mobile phone but no landline, compared with only 7% with a landline and no mobile.
