In an announcement that could signal the end of an era, AT&T has made clear its intention to phase out traditional landline phone service across the majority of its service area, a move that would see the retirement of the old copper wire infrastructure by the year 2029. This transition, part of the company's pivot towards modernizing its network, is grounded in the pursuit of expanded fiber networks that promise greater speeds and efficiency. As reported by USA Today, AT&T, which offers landline service in 21 states, is expected to leave only California untouched by this initiative—owing to legal requirements that ensure the service remains, as per AL.com.
Speaking to the logistics and motivations behind this sweeping change, "While building the network of the future, the company is actively working to exit its legacy copper network operations across the large majority of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029," AT&T said in a statement procured by AL.com. Moreover, the telecommunications giant aims to connect approximately 50 million locations to its burgeoning fiber service. The decision to sunset landlines, while logistically sound to AT&T, has caused concern among a slice of the population that, as JSOnline reports, signifies a lifeline for rural residents and older Americans who rely on the stability of landlines amidst inconsistent cellular service.
With statistics reflecting a mere 5% residential usage of these copper-based landlines, AT&T's Executive Vice President Susan Johnson articulated the financial rationale in an interview with PC Magazine, noting that phasing out the technology would cut maintenance costs by roughly 35% and also reduce electricity consumption. According to CBS 58, this 5% user base contrasts starkly with the costs AT&T shoulders, which amount to 35% of the company's maintenance budget.
AT&T has given itself a five-year horizon for this transition, which it claims is to provide ample notice to both customers and regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission. An AT&T representative cited by USA Today mentioned the need for FCC approval before the company can cease landline services for existing and new customers. As of now, deadline for the full shutdown of landline services nationwide is set for 2030, as per CBS 58.
