Just a few weeks ago, AT&T applied for a waiver that would allow it to stop servicing traditional landlines in California.
An AT&T spokesperson cited a “precipitous decline” in demand for landlines and told CNN it wanted to be fully operational on newer infrastructure within the next few years.
That’s part of a sweeping move by phone service providers to replace older copper wire-based telephone systems lines, also known as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), with faster and more advanced technology that doesn’t work with landlines.
Consumers will have to decide whether to give up their landlines or potentially face higher costs because of complex, expensive workarounds from the phone companies. Currently, the cost for fixed wireless access typically runs about $69 per month, while ethernet costs about $100.
The alternatives might not be as reliable as old-fashioned landlines either, and the process of switching the old equipment for the new could be a massive undertaking.
The shift away from copper landlines will most likely impact people over age 65, small business owners and rural areas, experts say.
Read more about the move away from landlines and its impact here.
Source: edition.cnn.com
