Why are landlines more reliable than cell phones during emergencies like AT&T outages?

Landlines use separate, dedicated infrastructure and often have their own power source, allowing them to function when cellular networks fail or during power outages.

How many Americans still use landline phones as of 2022?

According to a 2022 CDC survey, approximately 29% of US adults lived in households with a landline telephone.

What are the main downsides to keeping a landline in 2025?

The Federal Communications Commission is phasing out landline service requirements, and newer homes may not have phone jacks. Additionally, landline plans can be costly, and many newer services use VoIP, which relies on internet connectivity.

Home / Technology / Landlines: Your Emergency Lifeline in Outages?

Landlines: Your Emergency Lifeline in Outages?

3 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Landlines offer reliable communication during widespread mobile network failures.
Many landlines function during power outages due to dedicated power sources.
US landline usage dropped to only 29% of adults by 2022.

Landlines: Your Emergency Lifeline in Outages?

Recent widespread mobile network outages, including those affecting AT&T and Verizon, have underscored the critical importance of reliable communication. These disruptions left many without access to essential services, prompting a reconsideration of the landline telephone, once a standard home device.

Landlines utilize a separate infrastructure of copper phone lines, offering greater reliability and consistently clearer call quality compared to cellular networks. A significant advantage is their ability to function during power outages, a crucial feature for individuals in emergency services, healthcare, or those living in areas with unpredictable weather.

Despite a steep decline in usage, with only 29% of US adults having landlines in 2022, they remain valuable. Services like Google Voice can integrate landlines with other devices, and they are essential for legacy systems like analog fax machines used in many professional offices. Satellite-based internet is also emerging as an alternative for areas without traditional landline service.