AOL marks the cessation of dial-up internet service in September, a move coming 34 years after its initial launch. On that same day, the AOL Shield Browser and AOL Dialer software will be terminated.
AOL Bids Farewell to Dial-Up Internet After 34 Years of Service
After 34 years of providing internet connectivity to millions of users, AOL is set to discontinue its dial-up service on September 30, 2025. This decision marks the end of an era, as AOL will also cease its AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser.
During the dial-up era in the U.S., the best hobbyist modems only delivered up to 0.056 Mbps data speeds. Today, the preference for internet connectivity in the U.S. lies with the DSL/cable/fiber optic trinity, with ten times more people using it compared to satellite.
In regions of the U.S. where traditional phone lines (DSL) and newer wired options (fiber, cable) are unavailable, alternative internet connectivity options are essential. Fixed wireless and 5G home internet, and satellite internet, are the primary choices.
Fixed wireless and 5G home internet provide faster speeds, lower latency, and often more data (sometimes unlimited) compared to satellite alternatives. They are the top choices in areas lacking wired infrastructure. On the other hand, satellite remains a universal fallback option with availability virtually everywhere, but typically comes with higher costs, lower speeds, data caps, and higher latency than other methods.
Fiber-optic, despite its limited availability in very rural areas, remains the government and industry priority for rural broadband expansion due to its superior speed, reliability, and long-term economic benefits. Programs like the federal BEAD initiative are fueling fiber deployment through public-private partnerships in underserved rural communities, but fiber rollout is costly and slow in very low-density or difficult terrain areas.
Here's a summary of the connectivity types, their pros and cons:
| Connectivity Type | Availability | Pros | Cons | |-------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Fiber-optic | Expanding but limited in very rural areas | Highest speeds, low latency, reliable | High infrastructure cost, slow rollout in remote areas | | Fixed Wireless / 5G | Growing in rural areas | Relatively fast, lower latency than satellite, unlimited data options possible | Signal affected by terrain, requires nearby towers | | Satellite Internet | Available virtually everywhere | Universal coverage, easy to deploy | High latency, cost, data caps, less reliable for heavy use |
As AOL moves forward, satellite internet is emerging as a natural successor for internet connectivity in hard-to-reach places, with around eight million subscribers in the U.S. However, for those who don't have other connection options, there remain some niche providers in the U.S. and elsewhere.
According to the latest government census data, approximately a quarter of a million remaining dial-up holdouts still exist in the U.S. In large countries where traditional PSTN phone lines are still available but newer internet connectivity options may not be, some might argue that dial-up is still viable. However, by 2025, anyone who wants the best internet performance will usually prefer fiber connectivity, with a fairly typical service offering 500 Mbps data speeds.
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Technology continues to evolve, with newer internet connectivity options such as fiber-optic, fixed wireless, and 5G providing faster speeds and better performance compared to the dial-up internet service that AOL is discontinuing. For those living in remote areas where traditional wired options are unavailable, satellite internet might serve as a natural successor to dial-up service.
