AOL will discontinue its dial-up internet service on Sept. 30, closing a defining chapter in early online life after more than 40 years. The company says the decision follows a routine review of its products and services.
For many, the sound of a modem connecting was the soundtrack of their first trip online. At its peak, dial-up topped out around 56 kilobits per second under ideal conditions—an era far removed from today’s broadband and fiber connections that reach into the gigabits per second. AOL helped usher millions onto the web with trial CDs and an easy-to-use, “walled garden” experience, amassing roughly 10 million customers by 1995.
As technology advanced, dial-up faded to the margins and AOL’s role evolved. The company merged with Time Warner in 2000 at the height of the dot-com boom, a deal that ultimately unraveled and led to AOL being spun out in 2009. Verizon acquired AOL in 2015 for $4.4 billion, when about 2.1 million subscribers still relied on dial-up. After portions of the business changed hands again in 2021, the number of dial-up users had shrunk to the low thousands.
What this means now: the last remaining customers will need to secure alternative internet access before service ends on Sept. 30. While AOL did not elaborate beyond noting a routine evaluation, the move aligns with industry trends—supporting legacy infrastructure for a very small user base becomes impractical as faster, more reliable options proliferate. For most households, replacements range from cable and fiber to fixed wireless and satellite, depending on local availability.
A hopeful note: this sunset is also a milestone that marks just how far connectivity has come. The same internet that once crawled along phone lines is now fast enough to power remote work, telehealth, online learning, and entertainment—often all at once. For long-time users, it’s a moment to remember an era that introduced the online world to everyday life, and to look ahead to what the next generation of access will make possible.
Practical tip:
– If you or someone you know still uses dial-up, check local providers now to avoid a gap in service. In many areas, entry-level broadband or fixed wireless plans are available at relatively low cost, and some regions offer subsidized options for qualifying households.
Summary of key points:
– AOL will shut down dial-up internet service on Sept. 30.
– Dial-up defined early consumer internet, peaking at roughly 56 kbps and 10 million users by 1995.
– Corporate milestones: AOL-Time Warner merger (2000), AOL spun out (2009), Verizon acquisition (2015) with 2.1 million dial-up users, later sale of assets (2021) with users in the low thousands.
– The shutdown reflects the shift to faster, modern networks and the impracticality of maintaining aging infrastructure for a very small user base.