landline

Landline refers to a telephone service that uses a fixed physical connection between the user’s premises and a switching network. It is typically delivered over copper twisted-pair wires wired from a home or office to a local telephone exchange, and may also be provided over fiber to the node with copper or fiber last mile. The service is part of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and is commonly known as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).

In operation, a wall jack connects the subscriber line to a telephone or fax machine through an interface such as RJ-11. The local loop carries analog signals that are digitized at the exchange; in many modern networks, the last mile may support DSL or fiber while the central office handles the switching.

History: The fixed telephone network began in the 19th century with operator-assisted switching, evolving to dial service, digital transmission, ISDN, and modern broadband-integrated services. The term “landline” differentiates fixed connections from wireless mobile networks.

Technology and features: Landlines provide consistent voice quality, low latency, and power from the central office powering analog devices, allowing certain phones to operate during local power outages. They deliver emergency call capabilities and service reliability in many scenarios. However, they lack mobility.

Limitations and trends: They depend on physical infrastructure and can be disrupted by line damage. The rise of mobile networks and VoIP-based services has reduced household dependence on traditional landlines, though many households maintain landlines for reliability, emergency use, or business lines. In many regions, fixed-line voice is increasingly carried as IP traffic (VoIP) over broadband, while traditional copper lines are gradually replaced or complemented by fiber and hybrid networks.