The Future of Landlines: Is It Time to Switch to VoIP?

Landline usage as we know is dying. If you’ve been meaning to sit down and figure out what that means for your home or business phone line, there’s no time like the present.

Here’s the good news: the technology replacing legacy landlines matures each day. It’s affordable, and in many ways superior to the copper wires it replaces. In this article we’ll break down exactly what’s changing, what your options are and how to make the switch without the stress.

Why Are Landlines Going Away?

Legacy phone lines use copper wiring to deliver service to your home or business. Copper telephone infrastructure is extremely old, and most of it was laid during the last century so a lot of it is nearing the end of its useful life. Maintaining and repairing old copper lines is also expensive. As wireless and fiber optic networks have expanded over the last two decades, carriers have had every incentive to stop investing in copper lines, particularly in areas where they already offer broadband internet or cell service.

The FCC has allowed carriers to begin petitioning for retirement of copper lines as they update their networks, accelerating the copper phone line phase-out in many regions.

Some areas have already seen copper retirement. Others have years or even decades left. But the trend is obvious: unless you live in a mostly rural area, your phone line will soon be all-IP, and that copper landline you grew up with is going away.

Changing from a traditional landline to VoIP isn’t something to worry about though, as there are plenty of reliable landline alternatives to plan for..

Do People Still Use Landlines?

When consumers leave traditional landlines behind, they generally replace them with VoIP for home phone service. VoIP lets you keep a dedicated home number, which is essentially a digital landline, that receives important calls like shipping notifications or automatic bank alerts. It works across multiple devices and phones, and unlike your cell provider, VoIP service is engineered to deliver better call quality than copper phone lines ever could.

According to data published through the CDC National Health Interview Survey, under 30% of American households still use a traditional wired phone. Compare that to just over 90% two decades ago. Landline usage declines every year.

VoIP in Plain English

A home VoIP line (home phone over internet) works exactly the same way as FaceTime or Zoom, just routed through your existing phone system.

How VoIP Works (and Why Call Quality Is Better Now)

VoIP converts your voice into compressed digital data that travels over your broadband connection. Newer VoIP codecs (the software that converts your voice to data) offer HD voice that genuinely sounds better than a traditional phone line. Quality of Service (QoS) routing on modern routers prioritizes your phone traffic over other data on your network, which means dropped calls and buffered video become a thing of the past.

Call quality was rough in VoIP’s early days, but improved broadband speeds, smarter routers, and updated VoIP standards have solved nearly all those problems.

What You Need for VoIP at Home or Work

VoIP is easier to get than you think as most homes these days already have what they need:

• Modem/router: Any broadband connection works for VoIP, but for the most reliable service you’ll want at least 10 Mbps upload speed and a router that supports QoS specifications. QoS-enabled routers prioritize phone traffic so calls don’t drop if someone else is streaming video. Most ISP-provided routers qualify. Learn more about optimizing your connection to reduce latency and improve VoIP call quality.
• ATA adapter: If you want to keep using your existing cordless or wired phones with VoIP, an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) connects to your router and bridges your existing handsets to your new VoIP service. They’re small devices, usually about the size of a deck of playing cards.
• IP phone: An IP phone system uses phones that look and function identically to your existing desk phones but connect directly to your network through ethernet wiring.
• Softphone apps: Many VoIP providers offer apps that turn your smartphone or computer into your phone. No additional hardware is required.

For most home setups, your broadband connection feeds into your router, which connects to either an ATA adapter (if you want to keep your existing phones) or directly to an IP phone. The good news is that setup takes less than an hour for most people.

Landline vs. VoIP: The Practical Differences

So how does changing from landline usage to VoIP actually affect you?

Reliability & Power

Landlines stayed active during power outages because they received power through the phone company’s service lines. VoIP requires both your internet service and wall power to function, so a power outage takes your phone down.

The simple fix is a UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, which is the most reliable backup power for VoIP. It’s essentially a large battery that keeps your router, modem, and ATA running during short power outages. Many VoIP providers also support automatic LTE/5G failover to cellular networks if your broadband goes down. And your cell phone always works, too. For most people, outages are infrequent and don’t last longer than a UPS can handle.

Costs & Features

When you look at VoIP vs. landline cost, most VoIP services offer unlimited U.S. calling for a flat fee ranging from $10–$30 per month. Compare that to legacy phone service plans that charge upwards of $60+ per month just for access.

But VoIP’s big advantage is its features, including spam filtering, voicemail-to-email, call blocking, call waiting, call transfers, call recording, HD voice, multiple devices, and softphone apps that put your phone number on your computer or smartphone. Limited versions of these are all available through legacy providers, but at an additional cost. VoIP features almost always win when you compare these services head-to-head.

911 / Emergency Calling (E911)

Emergency calling over VoIP works just like a traditional landline once you’ve registered your address, but requires just one extra step. Legacy phone lines tie your house address to your phone number, so when you call 911, that address automatically went with your call. With VoIP, you need to register your physical address with your VoIP provider using a process called Enhanced 911, or E911.

Once you set up E911 address registration, your service automatically sends your address with any 911 call. Remember that you have to register your address and keep that registration updated if you move.

Feature	Traditional Landline	VoIP
Monthly cost on average	$30–$60+	$10–$30
Setup	Visit from tech	Self-install
Call features	Basic; often cost extra	Rich and included
Power outages	Yes (through phone line)	Needs UPS backup
Portability	Tied to one physical address	Works anywhere with internet
911	Address tied to phone number	Requires E911 registration
Call blocking	Basic, if offered	Built-in, effective

Who Should Keep a Landline?

VoIP makes sense for many homes and businesses, but there are some things to consider.

When VoIP Isn’t the Right Fit

If your rural broadband connection is spotty (slow speeds, high latency, dropped connections, or no service at all), you might have trouble with VoIP reliability. Instead, look into cellular backup options. Companies like Nomad offer POTS replacement devices that plug into your existing telephone equipment and route calls over LTE networks. Your phone still connects just like normal, but uses cellular data instead of copper or broadband.

Critical devices that require legacy phone lines:

• Older fax machines need upgrading or replacement with a VoIP-capable fax service. Fax over IP (FoIP) services and eFax solutions replace your existing hardware and keep faxing alive over your internet connection.
• Medical alert or telecare alarm compatibility is another consideration. These devices often require hardwired telephone lines and may need an IP-enabled upgrade before you switch.

These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, but they can require some extra work when moving from a landline to VoIP.

The Smart Path to Switching

Here’s how to make the switch without any technical hitch.

Pre-Switch Checklist

• Test your internet: VoIP needs modern broadband to work well, so run a speed test and look for less than 150ms latency and at least 5 Mbps upload speed for optimal results.
• Choose your provider: Make sure they support E911 registration, number porting, and backup options like UPS or LTE failover.
• Register your E911 address: Do this before your service activates.
• Get a UPS: A UPS keeps your router and ATA running during short outages.
• Port your number: Almost every VoIP provider handles number porting for you so you can keep your existing number through the transition.
• Test thoroughly: Make inbound and outbound calls and verify your E911 registration before relying on the service.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of the hardware side, follow these easy steps to set up a VoIP phone.

Home vs. Small Business Tips

Small business VoIP can benefit from a few additional features, including a dedicated IP phone, auto-attendants, call queues, and mobile apps for remote employees. For businesses that handle high call volumes, see how VoIP enhances customer support and call center performance.

For home users, most providers allow you to keep your existing cordless phones using an ATA adapter, with no new hardware being necessary. You can also use your smartphone as your home phone as many VoIP providers offer software apps that turn your phone or computer into a phone number for free.

Security & Privacy Basics

VoIP is really just another form of internet service, which means keeping your router secure keeps your phone service secure, too. A few simple habits cover most of the risk.

• Use strong passwords for both your WiFi network and router admin interface, and set your router to automatically update firmware.
• Choose a provider that supports TLS and SRTP encryption. These settings encrypt your calls between your phone and your provider.
• Enable spam call blocking and robocall filtering.

The Next Few Years: What to Expect

Copper networks will continue shutting down across the country as they reach end-of-life. Many of those former copper customers will turn to fiber phone service and fixed wireless connections to replace their legacy lines, and that means better call quality for nearly everyone, as more calls travel over lower-latency fiber lines and modern codecs.

As wireless VoIP technology improves, expect more options for connecting critical devices like alarms and nurse call systems to cellular networks. Spam filtering, voicemail transcription, and other AI-powered phone features we enjoy from major providers today will become standard across the board.

If you’re wondering whether to make the switch to VoIP: the future’s answer is a resounding yes.

Get VoIP with 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom

Whether you’re dropping your landline to go wireless or setting up a phone line for the first time, 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom has you covered. We install your wireless or wired VoIP line, register your E911 address, port your existing phone number, and enable backup options so your phone stays connected during internet outages.

If you have special equipment like alarm systems, fax machines, or elevator phones, we can help figure out your best options and connect you with resources to keep your critical services running without relying on legacy phone companies.

Connect with us today to learn more about making the switch. Explore hosted VoIP plans from 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom and find the right fit for your home or business.

FAQ

Will I still have the same phone number?

Yes. When you switch from a landline to VoIP service, you can keep your existing phone number. All of your contacts will continue to reach you at the same number. Porting can take a few days, but your provider handles the process while your existing service stays active.

Do I have to buy new phones?

No. You can use your existing phones with VoIP through an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). IP phones and softphone apps are also options if you want to explore something new.

Will my phone work if the power goes out?

Yes, if you get a UPS, which keeps your router and ATA powered during brief outages. Many of them provide several hours of backup power. For longer blackouts or frequent outages, you can enable LTE or 5G failover, which automatically switches your VoIP service to cellular data if your Internet goes down.

Is VoIP difficult to set up?

Not at all. Most modern VoIP services are truly plug-and-play. Providers like 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom manage all the technical setup for you, including E911 registration and number porting, and walk you through every step of the process until you’re up and running.

Landline usage will keep declining as copper infrastructure ages out. But a reliable home phone service isn’t going anywhere. Switch to VoIP and you keep your home phone number and gain access to a better, more affordable phone service than you had before.