Mobile phones 'outsell' landlines

Updated 08.00 Thu Aug 23 2007

A new report has revealed mobile phone ownership is continuing to erode landline use.

For the first time, calls from mobiles account for more than one third of time spent on phone calls in the UK, according to telecoms regulator Ofcom.

For the first time, calls from mobiles account for more than one third of time spent on phone calls in the UK, according to telecoms regulator Ofcom

Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) of UK households rely solely on mobiles, compared to 7 per cent which only have a landline.

Mobile phone connections in the UK alone last year also stood at 69.7 million - more than double the amount of landline connections at 33.6 million.

Meanwhile, the number of mobile phone subscriptions rose during 2006 as more people used secondary handsets such as BlackBerrys for work.

Ofcom spokesman Peter Phillips said: "There are more households which are now mobile-only in terms of their phone. The first quarter of 2007 is the first time that has happened."

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