The dial-up era is over: AOL is shutting down the old internet
AOL has announced that on 30 September 2025 it will completely end support for dial-up internet service (dial-up), which for over 30 years has remained a symbol of the beginning of the internet age for millions of users.
Here's What We Know
Dial-up is the technology of connecting to the Internet through a regular phone call, which in the 90s and early 2000s was the most popular way to get online. In recent years, this service has become almost obsolete due to the advent of high-speed broadband. However, the 2019 U.S. Census showed that about 265,000 people were still using this form of communication.
In a statement, AOL said it was discontinuing service not only for dial-up internet, but also related software - AOL Dialer and the AOL Shield browser - which were optimised for older operating systems and dial-up connections.
Many long-term dial-up users, especially the elderly, were reluctant to change the way they worked for a long time, for fear of losing access to important information such as e-mail, forums and other services. But modern technology and support helped them gradually move to newer and faster connections.
The closure of AOL dial-up symbolises the final closure of one of the most colourful chapters in the history of the Internet - a time when every entry to the network was accompanied by the distinctive sound of a modem. With it goes the last opportunity to connect via a phone call, giving way to new technologies.
