Amid Virus Crisis, Landlines Not a Technology of the Past, Parks Finds

Landline phones aren't a thing of the past, partly due to trends occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, an industry researcher found. The renewed validation of legacy telephony technologies comes as voice calls “address the universal need for communication and social connection,” Parks Associates reported. Home-based lifestyles drove “dramatic upticks in voice calling in all its forms,” according to telecom providers, said Parks. Some trends are temporary, and others may signal lasting change, the researcher said Tuesday. The pandemic underscored the value of traditional landlines, said Parks. Many turn to a landline for important calls, it said, as 40-60% of North American and EU households use one. Cellphones “can struggle for connectivity inside certain home designs and building materials while fixed-lines provide reliable service,” it said: Spotty Wi-Fi coverage can challenge VoIP calls. There are almost 16 million U.S. mobile-only households, whose only broadband access to the internet is through a mobile data plan, said Parks: During the pandemic, landlines relieve overburdened networks and don’t compete for residential bandwidth. Landlines will continue a migration to support VoIP, which in some households could keep landlines as a reliable backup, the firm said.