[phire]

In NZ, landlines are also on their way out.

It's not quite unsupported, but you can't sign up for a new copper landline plan unless there is no mobile coverage and no fibre coverage at your property. Otherwise, for anyone who really wants a "landline" you are getting VOIP over fibre or VOIP over mobile broadband.

87% of population have access to the new fibre network, and the old copper network is just redundant and unmantained in most built-up areas. Chorus recent started actively forcing remaining customers off it in some areas.

Personally, I've been without a landline for 10 years, and even my parents got rid of their landline a few years back. It's just cheaper to use a mobile phones instead (and in NZ, mobile phones come with the additional benefit of never receiving spam calls)

[gautamcgoel]

It seems to me that VOIP over fiber is functionally similar to a landline - you pick up a clunky phone and return it to a cradle. I miss that analog feeling! I guess the main difference is that you lose the ability to place a call if the power goes out.

[he_is_legend]

A landline will usually still work when there is a power outage - VOIP and fibre not so much.

[timrichard]

I'm in the habit of stashing a few UPS units around the house, so the home network has coverage....

I think my ISP in the UK (BT) offer a fibre package that has battery backup, probably for customers that have medical or emergency devices connected.

[Gigachad]

Australia is all voip too now. Although my new apartment has the connections inside the wardrobe which would make it pretty awkward to use for phone calls.

Very convenient for stashing away the router though.