Subhi Agrawal
Verizon has announced that its cell service is back online after a significant outage impacted many of its mobile phone users.
“We Know How Much People Rely On Verizon”
“Verizon engineers have fully restored today’s network disruption that impacted some customers. Service has returned to normal levels. If you are still having issues, we recommend restarting your device. We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience. We appreciate your patience,” Verizon stated in a statement on Monday, as reported by CNN.
The outage began somewhere around 11 am ET, with roughly 100,000 reports on DownDetector from customers.
Verizon customers expressed frustration on X (formerly Twitter) due to a widespread lack of cell service, with many unable to connect to the network. Several iPhone users reported their devices being stuck in “SOS” mode, restricting them to emergency satellite calls.
Verizon, with 114.2 million subscribers in the U.S., is among the largest carriers impacted by occasional network outages. This year, service disruptions have caused significant inconvenience, not just for Verizon, but also for AT&T, whose network went down for 11 hours in February due to a technical error following an update. AT&T also experienced outages in June and August, further highlighting the challenges of maintaining seamless mobile connectivity.
Causes Of Network Outages Revealed
Last month, a telecommunications expert explained to CNN that network outages are generally the result of three main factors: overloaded networks in large cities, software updates that malfunction, and other technical issues. These challenges can combine to disrupt service, leading to significant inconvenience for users.
However, telecom companies are known for being discreet about the causes of their outages. When networks experience disruptions, especially for short periods, it’s rare for cell service providers to disclose detailed information about what went wrong.
This lack of transparency can be particularly frustrating for customers who depend on reliable cell service for work, such as ride-share drivers. Additionally, these networks provide critical access to emergency services like 911 and keep people connected with loved ones and colleagues, regardless of location.
The Federal Communications Commission posted on X Monday afternoon, stating that it was “aware of a Verizon outage impacting customers in parts of the country,” and was investigating the cause and extent of the issue.
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