Nearly two-thirds of US homes (65%) will be using mobile internet only for voice services by the end of this year, according to research from industry group USTelecom. At the same time, 84 percent will subscribe to fixed broadband by the end of 2020.
The report on industry metrics and trends suggests that only 6 percent of US households will use traditional fixed lines at year-end. Another 29 percent will have a VoIP connection for fixed calls, usually from a cable network. Traditional switched phone subscriptions have fallen from a peak of 186 million in 2000 to a projected 24 million in 2020.
Mobile network access has also exceeded fixed in the US. As of mid-2018, 98.6 percent of Americans had access to a fixed network, while 99.8 percent have access to a mobile network and mobile internet, the report found.
U.S. smartphone adoption estimates range from 81% of adults
Internet data traffic continues to rise rapidly and the U.S. remains a global leader
• However, accommodating data traffic growth and maintaining U.S. International leadership
will require policies that address our greatest communications and technology challenges
while at the same time encouraging ongoing network investment
