Widespread Outages Disrupt Verizon Services Across the United States

Reports have surfaced from Verizon customers nationwide, indicating disruptions in service that began around noon Eastern Time on Wednesday. Many users reported that their phones only displayed 'SOS' mode during this period.

A Verizon representative informed CBS News of their awareness regarding a 'problem affecting wireless voice and data services for some users.'

The company has engaged its technical team to swiftly diagnose and address the issue. Verizon expressed apologies for the disruption, highlighting the crucial need for dependable connectivity.

As gathered from online monitoring platforms, which aggregate outage notifications, over 180,000 individuals have reported connectivity issues. These disruptions have spanned widely, with user complaints originating from locales as far-ranging as New York to California.

Although T-Mobile users experienced some reporting issues, a spokesperson for T-Mobile confirmed that their network continues to function as usual. They noted that due to Verizon's current difficulties, their subscribers might face challenges contacting Verizon users.

Officials with New York City's Emergency Management advised that these outages could impede some residents from dialing 911 in emergencies.

The agency recommended that individuals encountering connection difficulties with their Verizon devices during emergencies should utilize alternative means, such as landlines, devices from different carriers, or visiting a nearby police or fire station.

The observed SOS mode on Verizon phones serves as an alert for connectivity challenges with wireless networks. This mode ensures that emergency calls, like those to 911, remain possible, often through connections to other carriers.