Dial-up Internet has been around since the 1980s via public providers such as NSFNET-linked universities. The BBC established Internet access via Brunel University in the United Kingdom in 1989. Dial-up was first offered commercially in 1992 by Pipex in the United Kingdom and Sprint in the United States.

Was dial-up the first internet?

The first iteration of the Internet available for commercial use was dial-up. Dial-up Internet required a phone-line to operate, so phone calls couldn't be made using a landline while the Internet was in use. Speed was a significant issue in the early days.

Does dial-up internet exist?

Yes, you can still use dial-up internet if you have a telephone line, a required modem, and access to an internet provider with dial-up service. However, as more online tasks, like video streaming and web browsing, become more intensive, a high-speed internet connection, if available, might be one to consider.