Some Chinese internet users are hoping that 5G will kill wired broadband

When was the last time you called someone on a landline phone? This appliance used to be a staple of every home – then smartphones arrived. Now the shift to mobile phones in China is causing some to sever another kind of landline, but this time for internet thanks to the rise of 5G networks.

In a survey by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 93 per cent of wired internet users in China said they were interested in cutting the internet cord. And 70 per cent said they were extremely or very interested in using 5G for home internet.

The survey covers 1,000 respondents mostly in urban areas, but these views on mobile internet aren’t unusual for China. Julber Osio, associate research analyst at S&P, said wired internet usage has dropped over the last three years.

Osio attributes this to the fact that many people in mobile-first countries like China and India first experienced the internet on smartphones. One reason behind this was poor infrastructure, especially outside large cities, he said. While infrastructure has improved in recent years, the so-called “mobile-first” mindset stayed.

“Most digital services are developed with mobile platforms in mind (e.g. WeChat),” Osio said in an email. “The user experience and service features are richer in mobile than in other platforms.”

The roll-out of 5G networks has made ditching landlines even more tempting. The fifth-generation wireless technology is supposed to provide much faster speeds and greater coverage, with the ability to download an HD movie in a matter of seconds. It could also eventually benefit internet providers because it means they can skip the expensive optical cables. Despite patchy coverage in the US right now, Verizon is already offering 5G home internet in some places.