The iconic Danish directory assistance service 118 will close its phone line in early January. Its website will follow at the end of February. The operator, telecommunications firm Nuuday, announced the decision, citing a dramatic decline in use and upcoming regulatory changes. The move signals the end of a public utility era, shifting fully to commercial digital alternatives.
Call volume has collapsed from a peak of approximately 18.5 million calls to just 200,000. This steep drop makes the service commercially unsustainable, according to the company. New legislation expected next year will require explicit user consent before sharing personal data in directories. Nuuday stated this would further reduce the number of registered numbers and degrade service quality.
Nuuday, which owns brands like YouSee and Telmore, was the legally mandated provider of a nationwide directory service until late 2022. That universal service obligation was then lifted. The company continued operations on a purely commercial basis but has now decided to cease them entirely. The 118 number was established in 1992, with the website launching in 2010.
This closure reflects a broader digital transformation across Copenhagen's business districts and the wider Ă˜resund region. Consumers and businesses now overwhelmingly use online platforms like deGulesider.dk and Krak.dk for contact information. These digital services offer more comprehensive, real-time data than the traditional directory model could provide.
The shutdown is a straightforward business decision driven by obsolete technology and shifting regulations. It highlights how quickly legacy services can become financially unviable in the face of digital competition. The state no longer mandates a universal directory service, placing the burden of adaptation on the commercial operator. For international observers, it's a clear case of market forces retiring a pre-internet utility.
What does this mean for Danish consumers and businesses? The practical impact is minimal due to existing digital alternatives. The symbolic impact is greater, marking the final step in a long transition from a state-ensured public information service to a fragmented, commercial digital marketplace. The story is less about the loss of a service and more about the complete victory of online search over a centralized, dial-up information gateway.