AOL Says Goodbye to Dial-Up Internet After 34 Years
AOL has bid farewell to its vintage dial-up internet service, discontinuing it on September 30, 2025, after a 34-year run. This marks the end of an era for the last remaining customers who clung to the once-popular service.
At its peak in the late 1990s to early 2000s, AOL was the US's largest internet service provider, boasting over 35 million subscribers. However, the shift towards broadband and always-on connectivity in the 2010s reduced AOL's dial-up service to a niche offering.
In 2025, approximately a quarter of a million US users still relied on dial-up. These users will now have to switch to alternative providers like MSN Dial-Up, NetZero, or Juno. The discontinuation also affects AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser users.
In a farewell to dial-up, network enthusiasts pushed the boundaries of the technology. Using twelve 56K modems and Multilink PPP (MPPP) technology, they achieved a record 668 kbps download speed. Despite this feat, dial-up's days were numbered, with old modems now mainly used for faxes and Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) access.
AOL's dial-up service, launched in 1991, has finally been laid to rest. Its discontinuation signals the end of an era in internet history, as users embrace faster, always-on broadband connections. The remaining dial-up users must now adapt to alternative services.
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