AOL Retires Dial-Up Internet Service: Remarkably, They Still Offered It in 2025
The PC Gamer team is here to bring you the biggest gaming news and reviews, but today, we're shifting gears to discuss a topic that affects a smaller, yet significant, portion of our audience. AOL, once a household name for internet access, is discontinuing its dial-up service on September 30, 2025.
This move leaves a small number of remaining users, often in rural or tribal regions lacking broadband, searching for alternatives. Fear not, for there are several options available.
Alternative Internet Options
- Satellite Internet: A widely accessible option for remote or rural areas without traditional broadband infrastructure.
- Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Utilizing radio signals to deliver internet service to homes, promising for areas where wires are scarce.
- Mobile Hotspots: Using cellular networks (4G/5G) to provide internet access via portable or home hotspot devices.
- DSL and Fiber: Wired broadband options offering significantly faster speeds than dial-up, where available.
- Community Networks: Local broadband solutions created to improve access for underserved areas.
While switching to these alternatives may be necessary, it's important to note that some users might not have many other options for internet access. The discontinuation of AOL's dial-up service highlights ongoing challenges in extending high-speed internet to all areas, with an estimated 22.3% of rural Americans and 27.7% in Tribal lands still lacking broadband access.
The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD)
In an effort to address these issues, the Biden Administration passed the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2021, providing discounts on internet plans for low-income households. Additionally, the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) aims to expand broadband infrastructure, offering hope for the future.
A Freelance Tech Journalist's Perspective
Stevie Bonifield, a freelance tech journalist specializing in mobile tech, gaming gear, and accessories, shares insights on this topic. With interests outside of writing, including indie games, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), and building custom keyboards, Stevie offers a unique perspective on the tech landscape.
As we bid farewell to AOL's dial-up service, it's a reminder that the digital world continues to evolve. The PC Gamer team is here to guide you through these changes, offering the best deals on hardware and showcasing the year's upcoming PC game releases, the finest gunplay in the best FPS games, the grand adventures in the best RPGs, a selection of free PC games, and our all-time favorite PC games. Stay connected, and we'll see you online!
[1] Source: Various articles on the topic, available upon request. [2] Source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports, available online.
- For users affected by the discontinuation of AOL's dial-up service, exploring alternative internet options like satellite internet, fixed wireless access, mobile hotspots, DSL and fiber, or community networks can be crucial for maintaining their lifestyles and technology use.
- Stevie Bonifield, a tech journalist with interests in gaming, tabletop role-playing games, and custom keyboards, underscores the changing digital landscape in light of the end of AOL's dial-up service.
- As the digital world progresses, the PC Gamer team promises to provide the best deals on gaming hardware, updates on upcoming PC game releases, reviews on the finest FPS and RPG games, a selection of free PC games, and all-time favorites.
