Households with a landline telephone in the UK in Q1 2014-Q1 2020, by options for use
Despite a slight rise from 81 percent in 2014 to 83 percent in 2016, the share of households in the United Kingdom (UK) with a landline that can be used to make and receive calls fell to 73 percent in 2020. 22 percent of households report not having a landline at all. For every 100 inhabitants of the UK in 2017, there were 50 fixed telephone subscriptions.
Mobile phones offering a practical alternative
Mobile phones – particularly smartphones – are increasingly providing a practical alternative to a landline. 78 percent of all adults aged 16 years or older in the UK owned a smartphone as of 2018, compared with just 17 percent in 2008. Based on the falling average revenue per user (ARPU) of mobile post-paid customers, mobile telephony is becoming more affordable and replacing the need for a fixed line. Figures supplied by companies such as Vodafone and Telefonica support this view.
Falling fixed-line subscriptions around the world
As well as in the UK, where there are around 33.14 million fixed-line subscriptions, subscriber numbers have been falling worldwide. Peaking at 1.261 billion subscriptions in 2006, the number of fixed-line subscriptions globally fell to just 979 million by 2017.
Mobile phones offering a practical alternative
Mobile phones – particularly smartphones – are increasingly providing a practical alternative to a landline. 78 percent of all adults aged 16 years or older in the UK owned a smartphone as of 2018, compared with just 17 percent in 2008. Based on the falling average revenue per user (ARPU) of mobile post-paid customers, mobile telephony is becoming more affordable and replacing the need for a fixed line. Figures supplied by companies such as Vodafone and Telefonica support this view.
Falling fixed-line subscriptions around the world
As well as in the UK, where there are around 33.14 million fixed-line subscriptions, subscriber numbers have been falling worldwide. Peaking at 1.261 billion subscriptions in 2006, the number of fixed-line subscriptions globally fell to just 979 million by 2017.
