The landline telephone, once a central part of every Maltese household, is rapidly fading into obscurity as mobile phones become the dominant form of communication. According to a 2023 study by the Malta Communications Authority, only 80% of households remain subscribed to a fixed telephone service - down from 99% in 2005. Even among those who keep it, actual usage is dwindling, with many admitting it's kept more out of convenience tied to bundled services than for active use.

Street interviews conducted in Valletta reflect this national shift. A young man said bluntly, "We don't have a landline anymore - it's become too outdated. The mobile is easier now."

A young woman echoed the same thought: "I think it's easier to use a mobile phone than a landline - you can carry it everywhere." Their comments are in line with the study's findings, which show a sharp increase in the use of over-the-top (OTT) services like WhatsApp and Messenger, used by 51% of respondents in 2023 compared to 41% in 2019.

For some, the landline remains present but passive. One woman said, "I have one, but just to receive calls." Another explained, "I use it to call and receive sometimes, but mostly I use my mobile." In fact, the most commonly cited reason for keeping a landline today is that it's included in a home bundle.

"To be honest, we have it because of the homepack and free hours, but I use my mobile more than the telephone," said another. These bundled packages, which combine landline, internet, and TV services, are the main reason 87% of current landline users continue their subscriptions.

Despite these high subscription rates, a deeper look reveals that the landline's actual relevance has eroded. Only 40% of subscribers could accurately say how much they spend on fixed telephony each month, with most reporting an overall bundled cost of between €60 and €69. Meanwhile, 60% admitted they don't even know how much of that goes toward the landline itself.

This disconnect is further underlined by a Valletta resident who said, "Some people can't afford both a mobile and a landline. Even I've thought about removing mine - why pay for something I barely use?" Another elderly man simply remarked, "I don't use the telephone that much." While some older individuals still see value in keeping the line as a backup, many have adapted to mobile usage, often out of necessity rather than preference.

In fact, 76% of current subscribers in 2023 said they do not intend to discontinue their landline service - up from 48% in 2019 - likely because cancelling it would involve losing their home internet or TV bundle. However, for those without a landline, only 18% expressed any interest in getting one. The majority said they had no plans to subscribe at all, marking a clear generational and practical divide in communication habits.

Although 88% of respondents reported no service disruptions in the past year, satisfaction with fixed telephony has declined. Overall satisfaction dropped from 83% in 2019 to 73% in 2023, with the steepest fall seen in fault response services, which plummeted by 24 percentage points. Call costs are also a factor - 30% said fixed-to-mobile call rates are expensive, although 31% considered them reasonable.

For some, the mobile phone's convenience outweighs any need for a landline. "Most people aren't home anymore," said a young woman. "So having a mobile is just more convenient - you can take it with you when you need it." Another elderly woman acknowledged the usefulness of both: "I have a landline but I don't use it much. The mobile is more convenient - you always have it on you. But a landline is still good if you don't have your mobile nearby."

Still, the landline has not entirely lost its value. One older woman voiced concern about emergencies: "It's a serious issue if the electricity goes out and you have no landline or mobile. God forbid something happens to us elderly people." While this sentiment hints at the reliability of fixed lines in crisis situations, it appears to be the exception rather than the rule.

The current situation stands in stark contrast to the past, when landlines were a household fixture. Telephony arrived in Malta in 1882, just six years after Alexander Graham Bell's invention. For decades, the country relied on manual exchanges, then automatic systems in the 1920s, and later digital infrastructure introduced in the 1980s and 1990s. Malta Telecom, later privatised as GO, played a central role in modernising the nation's fixed-line systems through fibre optic cables and electronic switching.

The shift away from landlines began in earnest with the mobile revolution in the early 2000s. Number portability, the arrival of new providers, and falling mobile phone prices made it easier for people to ditch the landline altogether. OTT platforms accelerated this change, enabling users to make voice and video calls over the internet for free.

As technology continues to evolve - through 5G, smart assistants, and app-based messaging - landlines seem increasingly out of step with how people communicate today. As one woman in Valletta put it, "Everything is on mobile now - it's like you can't live without it. Before, we couldn't even dream of living like this."

The landline's final chapter hasn't yet been written, but for most in Malta, its use is limited, its future uncertain, and its role as the centrepiece of home communication is all but over.