One of the earliest ways people connected online is finally coming to an end. AOL has announced that it will shut down its dial-up internet service at the end of September, marking the close of a technology era that began in 1991.
The American company, now part of Yahoo, said the decision followed a review of its products and services. It will also discontinue AOL Dialer software and the AOL Shield browser, both designed for older systems and dial-up connections.
Dial-up internet, once a household staple, worked by using a telephone line to connect a computer to the web. The process involved a modem calling the provider’s modem, followed by the famous screeching tones that signalled a connection.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, AOL dominated this market in both the United States and Europe, with millions of subscribers. Its European expansion was ambitious but ultimately faced tough competition, pricing challenges and strategic errors.
By contrast, modern broadband and mobile networks have made dial-up virtually obsolete. In 2018, just two percent of people in the European Union still used it, compared to 88 percent relying on broadband. That broadband share has since climbed to nearly 93 percent.
For many, AOL’s shutdown will be a nostalgic reminder of a slower but groundbreaking time in the internet’s history. For the few still using it, the end of September will mean finding a new way to get online.
