In 2017, about half of all fixed network lines globally supported voice. The other half (the growing half) consisted of internet access lines, according to International Telecommunications Union data.
| Fixed Network Lines, Voice and Broadband, Lines in Millions | ||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017* | |
| Fixed-telephone subscriptions | ||||
| Developed | 503 | 490 | 479 | 471 |
| Developing | 592 | 556 | 524 | 500 |
| World | 1,095 | 1,046 | 1,004 | 972 |
| LDCs | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions | ||||
| Developed | 354 | 370 | 382 | 392 |
| Developing | 377 | 472 | 535 | 588 |
| World | 731 | 842 | 917 | 979 |
| LDCs | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Total Lines | ||||
| Developed | 857 | 860 | 861 | 863 |
| Developing | 969 | 1028 | 1059 | 1088 |
| World | 1,826 | 1,888 | 1,921 | 1951 |
| LDCs | 14 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| Percentage Broadband Lines | ||||
| Developed | 41% | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Developing | 39% | 46% | 51% | 54% |
| World | 40% | 45% | 48% | 50% |
| LDCs | 36% | 47% | 47% | 53% |
That illustrates one key facet of fixed network business models: increasingly, the fixed network is a platform for internet access, less so voice. The other trend is that more of the value of the fixed network is being generated by a range of data services including wholesale and retail lines, as well as services for enterprises.
