AOL is shutting down its dial-up service, a nostalgic connection method for many households during the early days of the internet, known for its distinctive sound in the 1990s and early 2000s. The company, once a leading internet provider globally, confirmed to CBC News the discontinuation of dial-up subscriptions on Sept. 30 to adapt to modern digital demands.
Dial-up was a foundational part of the early internet era, famously portrayed in the 1998 film “You’ve Got Mail,” where users connected devices to the web via a phone line, often requiring a trade-off with landline use. While AOL did not disclose specifics about its remaining dial-up users in Canada and the U.S., the prevalence of high-speed broadband has made dial-up largely obsolete.
Despite the dwindling usage, some rural areas in Canada still rely on dial-up due to limited or nonexistent high-speed internet options. However, with the internet landscape evolving beyond dial-up compatibility, the technology has become outdated, according to technology analyst Carmi Levy.
Recent reports indicate that 95% of Canadians have access to high-speed internet, though coverage in remote regions and territories is still developing. Dial-up accounted for a mere 0.1% of residential internet subscriptions in Canada in 2023, a decline from a decade earlier, with cable technology dominating the market.
In the U.S., an estimated 163,000 households were exclusively using dial-up for internet in 2023, highlighting its niche presence. While the transition away from dial-up may have a significant impact on some users, advancements like fiber-optic networks and satellite services are expanding internet accessibility options, especially in rural and remote areas.
Dana DiTomaso, a technology analyst, emphasized the limitations of satellite internet in certain terrains and the unlikelihood of a dial-up revival driven by nostalgia. The phased-out service, she noted, is a necessity for those lacking alternative high-speed options rather than a preference.