Verizon Outage Disrupts Mobile Services Across the US, Some 911 Calls Affected

Across the United States, Verizon customers began experiencing mobile service disruptions around midday Eastern Time on Wednesday. Users reported issues with making phone calls and accessing mobile data services. Additionally, Verizon broadband internet service users also noted connectivity problems. Customers of AT&T and T-Mobile also faced similar disruptions, apparently related to the Verizon incident.

Christina Moon Ashraf, a representative for Verizon, informed WIRED that they are aware of complications affecting wireless voice and data services for some of their users. She stated that their technical team is actively working to diagnose and rectify the problem as swiftly as possible.

According to a T-Mobile spokesperson, their services are functioning normally; however, they acknowledged that T-Mobile users might experience difficulties reaching individuals who are Verizon subscribers. Meanwhile, AT&T has yet to provide a statement in response to WIRED’s inquiries.

Data from an outage tracking website indicated a surge in complaints regarding service interruptions among the three leading mobile service providers in the United States.

A considerable number of customers with both iOS and Android phones reported that their devices were in SOS mode, restricting them to emergency call capabilities. Alarmingly, there are reports suggesting that even emergency services like 911 might be unavailable for some users.

The official emergency communications platform in Washington, DC, issued a notification at 12:57 PM Eastern Time. It informed the public of potential difficulties in reaching 911 due to the ongoing Verizon Wireless outage. They advised using alternate methods for emergency contact, such as devices from other carriers, landlines, or by visiting a local police or fire station.