The Disappearing Landline: Germany's Shift Towards App-Based Calls
Decreasing reliance on traditional landline and mobile call services
In the realm of communication, the good ol' telephone call is ceasing to be the preferred option. A report released by the Federal Network Agency reveals that merely 11% of all calls in 2023 were made using landlines, with a shrinking 4% decline in mobile calls. The culprit? You guessed it - apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams.
Germany, once a land of landlines, is now witnessing a dramatic downfall in traditional call volume. Last year, the landline call volume plummeted by 11% to 57 billion minutes, according to the agency's annual report. The total call volume via mobile networks reached 148 billion minutes, still a sizable figure, but exhibiting a 4% decrease.
The slide has been particularly steep for landlines. The previous years saw drops of 14% in 2022 and a staggering 20% in 2023, as the digital era maximizes its influence. The agency attributes this shift to the increasing adoption of number-independent interpersonal telecommunications services, primarily messenger and video conferencing applications.
Now, let's talk numbers. The call volume via apps, including WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams, and their ilk, zoomed from 175.1 billion minutes in 2023 to an impressive 196.7 billion minutes. The exchange of instant messages shot up from 891.4 billion to 901.9 billion, too.
Steer Clear of Extra Costs and Waiting for Fiber Optics: Be Wary of Expensive Transition Contracts
Data usage saw a hike on both landlines and mobiles. The data volume for landlines increased by 35 gigabytes per connection and month to a mean of 322 gigabytes. Mobile data consumption, albeit marginally, grew from 7.2 to 7.4 gigabytes per month and SIM profile. The majority of data traffic (88%) was managed via LTE, 10% through the 5G network, and a mere 2% via the GSM network.
The report wrapped up by announcing that a whopping 14.9 billion euros were pumped into the industry last year, primarily into expanding fiber optic and mobile infrastructure. The investment amounted to a 13% increase over the previous year.
So, what does this mean for you and me? Brace yourself for a world dominated by apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams, as traditional landline and mobile calls increasingly become a relic of the past.
Enriching Insights: Concerns regarding privacy, security, and cost are propelling some users to forgo traditional call methods for more app-based solutions. The emergence of alternatives like Mytello, offering low-data or no-internet international calling, and Google Voice could further fuel this shift.
Despite this trend, traditional calls remain relevant due to their reliability and wide availability. However, the rise of robocalls could prompt users to switch to app-based communication for better control over call filtering and blocking. With over 3 billion active users on messaging apps worldwide, it's clear that the digital communication revolution is underway.
Data sources: ntv.de, jwu/AFP
In the digital communication revolution, the preference for traditional landline and mobile calls is diminishing, with a significant shift towards app-based solutions such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams. This trend is driven by concerns regarding privacy, security, and cost.
As a response, alternatives like Mytello, offering low-data or no-internet international calling, and Google Voice could further accelerate this shift. However, the reliability and wide availability of traditional calls may hinder this complete transition, especially in light of the potential increase in robocalls. With over 3 billion active users on messaging apps worldwide, it's evident that vocational training in using these technologies will become increasingly important in the community policy.
