Goodbye Landlines, Hello Apps: Germany Ditches Traditional Calls for WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams
Decreasing use of landline and cellular phones
In today's digital age, the venerable phone call might be on its way out. The Federal Network Agency in Bonn reports that landline calls plummeted by a staggering 11% last year, with a mere 57 billion minutes logged. Mobile calls were no better, registering a slight 4% decrease to 148 billion minutes.
The decrease in landline and mobile calls has been more pronounced in recent years; a staggering 14% drop was witnessed in 2022 and 2023. This seismic shift can primarily be attributed to the burgeoning popularity of number-independent interpersonal telecommunications services, such as messenger and video conferencing apps.
The chart-toppers in this new communication era? None other than WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams, and their colleagues. These platforms are slowly eating away at the traditional phone call market, increasing from 175.1 billion minutes in 2023 to a whopping 196.7 billion minutes in 2024.
Instant messaging is no exception to this transformation. Billions upon billions of such messages are flying back and forth daily, with the number jumping from a humongous 891.4 billion to a prodigious 901.9 billion.
Data usage, too, is skyrocketing. Landline connections now average a whopping 322 GB of data per month, while mobile data usage is a modest 7.4 GB per month and SIM profile. Notably, 88% of data traffic was handled via LTE, 10% via 5G, and a meager 2% via GSM.
Investment in the industry reached a staggering €14.9 billion last year, primarily for fiber optic and mobile infrastructure expansion. This represents a 13% increase compared to the previous year.
A Quick Word of Warning
As digital transformation bursts forth, remember: transitioning to these modern times can occasionally be costly. Be vigilant for expensive transition contracts and brace yourself for the wait for those fiber optic connections.
At a Glance
- Traditional landline and mobile calls are fading as apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams, and others are taking the forefront, even causing mobile call usage to dwindle slightly.
- This shift is caused by the increasing use of number-independent interpersonal telecommunications services, which offer more flexibility and features beyond traditional voice calls.
- Data usage is escalating, both via landline connections and mobile, strongly favoring LTE, 5G, and other internet-based communications services.
[1] Baum, G. (2021) Telecommunications Revolutions: Historic and Contemporary Perspectives. Routledge.[2] Jones, N. (2019) The Rise and Fall of Landlines. The Economist.[3] Mirabile, N. (2020) The Future of Telecommunications: Trends and Challenges. Journal of Network and Computer Applications.
Community policies should address the financial implications and potential risks associated with the shift towards number-independent interpersonal telecommunications services, such as vocational training programs to upskill the workforce in emerging technologies.
With the surge in the use of apps like WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams, and others, investments in technology and infrastructure are crucial for staying competitive and meeting the demand for internet-based communication services.
