Unprecedented Disruptions
Thousands of AT&T users woke up Thursday morning to find their cellphone service not working, as the wireless carrier faced network issues nationwide. At least 73,000 customers reported difficulties making and receiving calls since 3 a.m. Eastern, well above the usual reports of 50 to 100 during a 24-hour period.
Urgent Restoration Efforts
An AT&T spokesman acknowledged the interruptions in wireless service, assuring customers that the company is actively working to resolve the issue. AT&T advised affected users to utilize Wi-Fi calling until normal service resumes.
Wide-Spread Impact
The cause of the disruption remains unknown, with AT&T customers across major metro areas such as New York, Houston, Atlanta, and others experiencing outages. Some users even found their phones stuck in SOS mode during the service interruption.
Network Comparisons
While 4,000 Verizon users and 2,000 T-Mobile users also reported wireless service problems, the companies stated their networks were functioning normally. Disruptions might have occurred when customers attempted to connect to alternative networks.
Emergency Response Concerns
The severity of the outages prompted warnings from emergency responders, like San Francisco’s fire department, advising those in need of emergency assistance to opt for landlines or phones with other wireless providers rather than relying on AT&T service.
