Final answer:
The question deals with how modems and dial-up connections were used for Internet access in the early stages before broadband was widespread. The transformation from using standard phone lines to more efficient broadband connections enabled the Internet to cope with increasing traffic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question concerns how early modems were used to connect to the Internet, particularly using a dial-up connection. The origins of the internet are traced back to the 1960s with advancements in networking technology, largely spurred by government research. In the 1990s, modems evolved to handle faster speeds and facilitate broader public access to the burgeoning Internet.
By the late 1980s, approximately thirty thousand hosts were present on the Internet. Service providers like America Online (AOL) began to offer connections to the Internet using standard phone lines and modems akin to Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs). However, due to exponentially increasing data traffic, service providers gradually moved from dial-up to broadband connections that utilized cable lines and dedicated lines for a faster and more reliable Internet experience.