On September 30, AOL’s dial-up hold-outs might want to lastly transfer on to a different web service. AOL introduced this week that it is going to be discontinuing its dial-up service subsequent month, which most likely is not as stunning as the truth that AOL was nonetheless providing dial-up in 2025 to start with.
Dial-up utilization has plummeted over current years. AOL had some 1.5 million dial-up customers in 2015, however as of 2021 that quantity was reportedly “in the low thousands.” So, this variation most likely does not impression many individuals, however it’s considerably stunning that dial-up utilization has carried on for therefore lengthy. AOL initially launched its dial-up service in 1991, which means it is going to be 34 years previous when it is lastly shut down subsequent month.
Unfortunately, some of the people still using dial-up probably don’t have many other options for internet access. Broadband infrastructure has yet to make its way to some remote rural areas, or if it is present, it’s expensive. Many of the AOL customers who were still subscribed to its dial-up service likely stuck with it out of necessity. Luckily for those people, AOL isn’t the only dial-up provider around. There are still a few others providing the antiquated service.
However, ideally efforts are made to proceed increasing broadband entry so individuals do not must maintain leaning on gradual, outdated web choices like dial-up. An estimated 22.3% of Americans in rural areas and 27.7% of Americans in Tribal lands nonetheless lack entry to high-speed web. In city areas, just one.5% of Americans face the identical challenge.
Luckily, there are applications designed to assist enhance that state of affairs. For occasion, in 2021, the Biden Administration handed the Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives reductions on web plans for low-income households. There’s additionally the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), which goals to increase broadband infrastructure.
For these of us who’re used to having fixed entry to high-speed web, coping with lag throughout an internet multiplayer match might sound unbearable, however at the least you are not nonetheless caught on dial-up.