TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A survey by the National Communications Commission found that a growing majority of citizens rely primarily on mobile phones, while landline usage continues to decline.
According to the NCC, the proportion of people who use landlines and mobile phones fell from 79% in 2017 to 45.8% in 2023. The figure rebounded slightly to 48.9% in 2024 before dropping to 45.4% in 2025. Meanwhile, the share of respondents who only use a landline reached a record low of 2% in 2025, per UDN.
Age-group analysis showed a strong year-on-year increase in respondents who use only mobile phones at home. Among those aged 16-25, the proportion rose from 20.3% in 2018 to 74.8% in 2025. In the 26-35 age group, it increased from 22.7% to 72.5% over the same period.
The share of people aged 16-25, 26-35, and 36-45 who use both landline and mobile phones at home has generally declined each year. However, among respondents aged 66 and older, the proportion using both services rose from 64.9% in 2024 to 72% in 2025.
Landline-only use remains concentrated among those 66 and older, though it has decreased from 7.2% in 2018 to 5.9% in 2025.
When asked whether they plan to cancel their landline service in the next year, most respondents said they would not. The proportion indicating they would keep their service slipped slightly from 91% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025.
Among those considering cancellation, replacing the landline with a mobile phone was the primary reason, cited by 67% of respondents. Other reasons included no longer needing a landline (35%) and avoiding scam calls (20.8%).
The NCC said some groups, particularly older adults, still have a need for landlines. The survey also found that landline calls are easier to trace, making them less attractive to fraud groups. In addition, home landlines are typically placed in shared family spaces, increasing the likelihood that other household members may be aware of suspicious calls.
