AOL to End Dial-Up Internet Service in September
▼ Summary
– AOL will shut down its dial-up modem service on September 30, 2025, ending a technology that was a primary internet gateway in the 1990s and early 2000s.
– Along with dial-up, AOL is retiring its AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser, which managed connections and optimized browsing for slower speeds.
– AOL launched in 1991 as a closed online service and only added full internet access in 1994, peaking at over 25 million subscribers before broadband adoption declined its use.
– Approximately 175,000 US households still use dial-up, mainly in rural areas lacking broadband infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing digital divide.
– Dial-up connections, with speeds of 0.056 Mbps, are vastly slower than modern broadband, making tasks like downloading media impractical compared to today’s standards.
AOL is officially pulling the plug on its iconic dial-up internet service this September, marking the end of an era for the technology that introduced millions to the online world. The company recently confirmed September 30, 2025, as the shutdown date for its legacy telephone-based internet access, along with related software like AOL Dialer and the AOL Shield browser.
Originally launched in 1991 as America Online, the service initially functioned as a closed network before opening to the broader internet in 1994. At its peak, AOL boasted over 25 million subscribers, becoming synonymous with early web culture, from chat rooms to the infamous “You’ve Got Mail” notification. Yet as broadband took over in the early 2000s, dial-up’s relevance faded, though it never completely disappeared.
Despite the rapid expansion of high-speed internet, recent Census data reveals that around 175,000 U.S. households still rely on dial-up connections. Many of these users live in rural areas where broadband infrastructure remains unavailable or too costly to implement. For them, alternatives like satellite internet exist, but data caps and latency issues make these options far from ideal.
The contrast between dial-up and modern internet speeds is staggering. Where a 56K modem struggled to load basic web pages, today’s fiber connections deliver speeds nearly 9,000 times faster. Downloading a single high-resolution image could take minutes on dial-up, while streaming a movie would be practically impossible. Yet for those who grew up with the service, the experience was unforgettable, from the screeching modem handshake to the frustration of a dropped connection during a phone call.
AOL’s decision to retire dial-up underscores the persistent digital divide in the U.S., where rural communities often lack access to the same high-speed options available in urban areas. While most users have moved on to faster technologies, the shutdown serves as a reminder of how far the internet has come, and how far some regions still have to go.
For longtime subscribers, the end of AOL’s dial-up service closes a chapter in internet history. The familiar sounds of connecting, the beeps, static, and eventual “Welcome!”, will soon fade into memory, replaced by the silent, instant connectivity of modern broadband. Yet for those who relied on it, dial-up wasn’t just slow internet; it was their gateway to the digital age.
(Source: Wired)
