- Bessie Hassan
- Head of PR & Money Expert
- finder.com.au
- +61 402 567 568
- Bessie.Hassan@finder.com.au
Media Release
End of the line for home phones as Aussies go mobile
- Landlines to become extinct by 2036, predicts Finder
- 44% of Aussie households don't own a home phone
- Best mobile plans with overseas inclusions
18 October, 2019, Sydney, Australia – Landlines may become extinct earlier than expected according to Finder, Australia's most visited comparison site.
A Finder survey of 5,135 Australians reveals that 56% of Aussies own a landline phone.
This is made up of 18% who regularly use it for phone calls and a further 18% who only have one because it came with their Internet.
One in ten (11%) home phone owners admit to never using their handset.
Sabine Leroy, tech specialist at Finder, said with mobile plans providing such good value for money, ditching home phones has become a no-brainer.
"Unlimited calls are now a standard inclusion for mobile plans, so why should we be paying for a home phone as well?
"Much like the telephone book, landline phones are fast becoming relics from another era. Many Gen Z haven't grown up with home phones, while Millennials are probably the last generation to remember using a landline.
Finder analysis of the Australian Communications and Media Authority's latest annual report revealed that Aussie homes could be landline free as early as 2036.
The number of Aussie homes with a landline connected has plummeted from 83% in 2011 to just 58% in 2018. That's a drop of 25% in just eight years.
Based on this decline, Finder expects the number of Aussie homes with a landline to drop to 50% by 2021, with remaining homes following suit over the next 15 years.
Leroy says some Aussies are reluctant to part with their home phone because they use it to call friends and relatives overseas.
"There's a common misconception that making international calls on a mobile is extortionately priced, but this is no longer the case.
"A number of teclos now offer mobile plans which include unlimited international minutes to selected countries. Aussies can potentially save big bucks by making the switch – there's no excuse not to call the folks back home now!"
| Do you have a landline phone? | Percentage |
|---|---|
| No | 44% |
| Yes, and I regularly use it for calls | 18% |
| Yes, but only because it came with my Internet | 18% |
| Yes, but I never make calls | 11% |
| Yes, only for emergencies | 4% |
| Yes, only for receiving calls | 3% |
| Yes, for international calls | 1% |
Source: Finder September 2019 Survey
Best mobile plans with overseas inclusions
| Plan | Cost per month | Features |
|---|---|---|
| amaysim Unlimited 45GB | $40 | - Unlimited standard national calls + texts - 45GB of data- Unlimited standard calls to mobiles and landlines, and text to 10 countries - Unlimited standard calls to mobiles and landlines, and text to 10 countries - 300 minutes for standard calls and text to a further 22 countries |
| Lycamobile Unlimited Plan S | $30 | - Unlimited standard national calls + texts -25GB of data + 15GB bonus data for new customers - Unlimited international minutes to 12 countries - 30 international minutes to nine select countries OR 10 international minutes to 10 select countries |
| Lebara Small Plan | $24.90 | - Unlimited standard national calls + texts -12GB of data - Unlimited standard international calls + texts to 20 countries - Unlimited standard text to 60 select countries - $5 international credit for talk or text for any other country |
###
For further information
- Bessie Hassan
- Head of PR & Money Expert
- finder.com.au
- +61 402 567 568
- Bessie.Hassan@finder.com.au
Disclaimer
The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.
About Finder
Every month 2.6 million unique visitors turn to Finder to save money and time, and to make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.
Our free service is 100% independently-owned by three Australians: Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral. Since launching in 2006, Finder has helped Aussies find what they need from 1,800+ brands across 100+ categories.
We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now have offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.
12.6 million average unique monthly audience (June- September 2019), Nielsen Digital Panel