AT&T Network Outage Leaves Customers Unable to Make Calls or Access Internet
In a surprising turn of events, AT&T experienced a widespread network outage on Thursday morning, leaving its customers across the United States unable to place calls, send text messages, or access the internet. While Verizon and T-Mobile also reported some network outages, they appeared to be far less widespread in comparison. Both T-Mobile and Verizon assured their customers that their networks were unaffected by AT&T’s service outage, suggesting that customers reporting outages may have been unable to reach AT&T users.
The impact of the outage was significant, with over 73,000 AT&T customers reporting outages on the digital-service tracking site DownDetector. However, it is important to note that this number is not comprehensive, as DownDetector only tracks self-reported outages. Although there was a slight decrease in outage reports during the 5 am ET hour, they quickly surged back up during the 7 am ET hour and continue to rise.
AT&T has acknowledged the widespread outage but has not provided a reason for the system failure. In a statement, the company said, “Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored.” AT&T has been actively responding to customer complaints online and has requested them to send direct messages to customer service for assistance.
This is not the first time AT&T has encountered outages in recent days. Just a few days ago, some parts of the southeastern United States experienced a temporary 911 outage. While outages do occur from time to time, nationwide and prolonged outages are exceedingly rare.
The impact of the outage extended beyond individual customers. Several local governments reported disruptions in their services due to the AT&T outage. San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management stated that its 911 center remained operational, but many AT&T customers were unable to reach the emergency line. The department advised people to call from a landline or find someone with a rival’s service to dial 911. Similarly, the Fire Department in Upper Arlington, Ohio, noted that the AT&T outage was affecting its fire alarms. Other areas, such as St. Joseph County, Michigan, Cobb County, Georgia, and Cabel County, West Virginia, suggested alternative methods of reaching emergency services for customers who couldn’t reach 911 on AT&T’s network.
Interestingly, both Verizon and T-Mobile also experienced some outages on Thursday morning, with approximately 1,000 reports each on the DownDetector website. However, both companies clarified that their networks were operating normally and were unaffected by AT&T’s outage. T-Mobile stated, “We did not experience an outage. Our network is operating normally.” Verizon echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “Verizon’s network is operating normally. Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier. We are continuing to monitor the situation.”
It is worth noting that user reports on Downdetector about a T-Mobile outage were likely reflecting challenges faced by T-Mobile customers attempting to connect to users on other networks. Downdetector provides real-time status information for over 12,000 services across 47 websites and 47 countries.
As of now, this is a developing story, and updates are expected to follow. CNN’s Carroll Alvarado contributed to this report, providing additional insights into the situation.
In conclusion, AT&T’s network outage has caused significant disruptions for its customers across the United States. While the exact cause of the outage remains unknown, AT&T is working diligently to restore service to its affected customers. The impact of the outage extended beyond individual users, with local governments and emergency services experiencing disruptions as well. Meanwhile, Verizon and T-Mobile reported some outages but assured their customers that their networks were operating normally. As this story continues to develop, it is crucial for AT&T to address the issue promptly and provide a comprehensive explanation to its customers.
