Some Verizon customers across the U.S. experienced a wireless service outage Wednesday afternoon, leaving many unable to make calls or use mobile data.
Company Responds as Engineers Investigate
Verizon confirmed the issue in a statement, saying it was impacting wireless voice and data services for some users. The company said engineers were actively working to identify and resolve the problem but did not provide a timeline for full restoration.
“We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience,” Verizon said.
Customers Report ‘SOS’ Signal
Many affected users took to social media, reporting their phones displayed “SOS” instead of normal network bars. Outage-tracking site Downdetector showed reports spiking around noon Eastern time, with as many as 175,000 customers affected at the peak.
By mid-afternoon, reports had dropped to fewer than 60,000, suggesting service was gradually being restored.
911 Calls Impacted in New York
New York City Emergency Management officials said the outage affected some Verizon users attempting to call 911. Residents were advised to use devices from other carriers, landlines, or to go directly to a police precinct or fire station if they could not connect.
Not Believed to Be a Cyberattack
Law enforcement agencies reviewed whether the outage could be linked to a cyberattack, but authorities said it is currently believed to be a technical issue. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency referred inquiries back to Verizon.
Verizon said teams were on the ground working to fix the issue and encouraged customers to check the company’s website and social media channels for updates.
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