Verizon Resolves Nationwide Outage Affecting Calls and Data/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Verizon has resolved a major 10-hour outage that disrupted cellular service across the U.S. The company apologized and will offer $20 account credits to affected customers. Cities like New York, Miami, and Dallas saw widespread impact.
Verizon Outage Resolved: Quick Looks
- Verizon resolved a 10-hour service outage by 10:20 p.m. ET Wednesday
- Cause of the outage remains undisclosed
- Over 1.5 million outage reports logged on Downdetector
- Affected services included voice, data, and 911 calling in some areas
- Impacted cities included New York, Houston, Dallas, Miami, and Philadelphia
- Verizon apologized, offering $20 credits via their app
- Business customers to be contacted directly for compensation
- Other carriers confirmed their networks remained unaffected
- Customers advised to use Wi-Fi or satellite messaging during outages
Deep Look: Verizon Resolves Nationwide Outage Affecting Calls and Data
NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon says it has fully resolved a nationwide outage that left millions of customers without cell service, data access, and in some cases, the ability to call 911 for more than 10 hours on Wednesday.
The New York-based telecommunications giant confirmed that service was restored by 10:20 p.m. ET, though the company did not provide a specific explanation for what caused the widespread disruption. Throughout the day, Verizon deployed its engineering teams to investigate and resolve what it described as an issue impacting “wireless voice and data services.”
“Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry,” the company posted in a message on social media. In an additional statement, a Verizon spokesperson said impacted customers will receive a $20 account credit through the My Verizon app, a reimbursement that, on average, “covers multiple days of service.” Business clients will be contacted directly regarding compensation.
Impact Felt Nationwide
The scope of the outage was vast. According to outage tracking website Downdetector, service disruptions began just before noon ET and peaked in the early afternoon, eventually generating over 1.5 million individual reports before 5 p.m. ET.
Verizon customers across the country described seeing their phones stuck in “SOS” mode, or showing messages like “No Signal.” Some users were unable to place emergency calls, prompting cities like New York to issue public warnings that 911 access could be compromised.
Officials urged affected individuals to use landlines, switch to Wi-Fi calling, or seek help in person at local fire or police stations in case of emergencies. Among the most affected areas were New York City, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, and Miami, though customers in smaller cities and rural areas also reported service issues.
Other Carriers Respond
As frustrations mounted, some users suspected broader network problems — but competing carriers quickly clarified that their services were unaffected. Both AT&T and T-Mobile issued public statements confirming normal operations. However, they noted that some of their customers may have had trouble reaching Verizon users, given the scope of Verizon’s outage.
This confusion is common in widespread network incidents, as communication across providers can be disrupted when one carrier is experiencing service degradation.
Alternatives During Cellular Outages
Verizon, like many telecom providers, encourages customers to connect to Wi-Fi networks and use internet-based calling if cell service fails. Additionally, users with newer iPhone models can send satellite-based emergency messages, though such options remain limited to specific devices and plans.
In its statement, Verizon did not say whether its internal network, third-party vendors, or system upgrades were factors in the outage. Telecom experts note that large-scale outages can stem from anything from software updates and configuration errors to cyberattacks, though no such cause has been identified in this case.
Moving Forward
As one of the largest wireless providers in the U.S., Verizon faces scrutiny not just for the disruption but for its response. Offering credits and acknowledging the inconvenience is a key part of restoring consumer trust, but the lack of immediate transparency around the cause may draw criticism from watchdog groups or regulators.
The company’s ability to quickly compensate users — and keep similar events from recurring — will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
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