AT&T plans to eliminate its traditional landline phone service across nearly all U.S. states in its service area by 2029, according to an official announcement.

The wireless carrier has said its copper wire infrastructure is antiquated, maintaining it is costly and better service is available through fiber and wireless broadband networks. This improved service does not extend to landlines.

But buyer advocates nationwide have objected to the removal of traditional phone service. They declare access to basic landlines is significant for the country’s most vulnerable people, including elder citizens who don’t desire to use cell phones, consumers who can’t afford cell service and those in rural areas who may not have excellent access to cell or broadband internet.

Where does AT&T provide landline service?

The wireless carrier currently provides traditional landline service in 21 states, excluding some states in the northeast and northwest. The selection to eliminate landline service would affect all but one state, California, an AT&T spokesperson told USA TODAY on Wednesday. Regulators there earlier this year rejected a proposal from AT&T to be relieved of its “Carrier of Last Resort Obligation,” which requires them to maintain their copper-based network.

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“We’re working with our customers through this shift,” a spokesperson said. “No customers will misplace voice or 911 service.”

“We’ve been working at the state and federal level to update the regulatory frameworks,” the spokesperson told USA TODAY. “While the work has been underway with the states, we’ve also been working with the FCC (Federal Communications percentage).”

Do people still use landlines?

Fewer telephone companies are offering basic landline service because the utilities declare the copper wire infrastructure is ancient and expensive to maintain and the demand for landlines has been low as consumers shift toward mobile and other services.

An AT&T spokesperson said Wednesday only 5% of its residential customers have landlines.

The number of households nationwide with landlines is dwindling, as USA TODAY previously reported.

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Since 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey has tracked estimates of how many U.S. households have wireless services and nothing else. 

More than three-quarters of Americans live in homes without landlines: 76% of adults and 87% of children, as of the complete of 2023, according to the agency’s most recent update.  

That data also tracks with estimates from research firm Gartner, which estimated that in 2024, about 80% of all person voice connections would be through mobile phones and 20% through landlines. That 20% represents about 88 million lines nationwide, Lisa Pierce, Gartner research vice president, has told USA TODAY. 

What does AT&T schedule to do?

In a press release Monday, AT&T said it would expand what is already “the largest fiber broadband network in America.” The business said by the complete of 2029, it expects to reach more than 50 million locations with fiber.

An AT&T spokesperson said copper wire services are inefficient, wasteful of vigor and no longer meet the “speed, reliability and always on-connectivity.”

This is a developing narrative. Check back for updates.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a buyer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or pursue her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include buyer information on Fridays, here.