Fixed line is land line. Remember, Verizon is several of the old ma-bells (and GTE). Ten years ago land lines was their bread and butter business. Today land lines are dinosaur technology.
The real question is why have the phone companies shown such poor planning. Everybody new land lines would be gone eventually, yet the stubornly stuck with the technology.
Verizon did see the writing on the wall, that’s why they created the lower-cost and lower-maintenance (from their point of view) FIOS service.
Thing is, that’s just one division. They have a lot of other divisions that like GM are in conflict and competition with each other, and the older-soon-to-be-all-but-defunct POTS divisions have entirely too many union droids who can’t be fired any other way.
ICBW, but I think it was so that Verizon could retain the rights of way. When I retired 10 years ago the plan was to string fiber for telephone, data and (on demand) cable TV (plus whatever interactive new stuff came down the pike). For whatever reason, eg state PSCs, the transition took too long so VZ is now going in another direction
There is actually still a sizable market for land lines. Mostly in rural areas though where cell service is spotty. But to abandon the technology would be to neglect a solid consumer base.
I refuse to give mine up, and I live in a metro area. Call me a dinosaur but in the event of a national crisis or emergency, a hard line might end up being the only line.
On 9/11 I could call out of NY State. I just couldn't call hubby in NYC on a cell phone. He finally got someone's rim pager to send me a voice message he was alive.