AOL discontinues its dial-up internet service after 34 years of operation

It’s the end of an era – dial-up internet will soon be no more

AOL (originally known as America Online) is shutting down its dial-up internet service. This service was hugely popular during the 90s, delivering users internet connectivity using phone lines with its iconic chirpy start-up noises.

Many internet users will remember the days of dial-up, when image or music downloads could take minutes to complete. Now, dial-up has been replaced with faster internet services, ushering in the age of online gaming, video streaming, and video calls. Many said that dial-up was dead in the early 2000s, but its use has persisted. Now, AOL has confirmed that it will discontinue its dial-up internet service on September 30th.

AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet,

– AOL

In 2023, it was estimated by the US Census Bureau that over 300,000 people in the US used dial-up internet exclusively. The same survey says that over 300 million people in the US use broadband internet.

Now, AOL’s remaining dial-up users will need to move to a new form of internet connection. That may prove challenging for some rural users, where broadband may not be readily available.

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