Wi-Fi Calling Urged as Major US Cities Experience Severe Mobile Network Disruptions

Numerous cell phone users throughout the United States encountered disruptions in their mobile services on Thursday morning. Downdetector.com, a platform that monitors outages, revealed a surge in reports indicating a lack of service or signal after 04:00 EST (09:00 GMT).

AT&T acknowledged wireless service interruptions affecting some of its customers, assuring that three-quarters of the network had been restored. While other carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile asserted their networks were functioning normally, they suggested that customers might be encountering issues when trying to communicate with users from different providers.

Downdetector displayed AT&T customer complaints peaking at over 74,000, with notable concentrations in the southern and eastern regions. AT&T promptly addressed the situation, stating, "Our network teams took immediate action, and so far, three-quarters of our network has been restored. We are working as quickly as possible to restore service to remaining customers." Cricket Wireless, a smaller carrier, also confirmed service interruptions and expressed urgency in resolving the matter.

Despite the acknowledgment of disruptions, neither AT&T nor Cricket Wireless provided a detailed explanation for the outage. Both carriers, however, encouraged users to utilize Wi-Fi calling until regular service was reinstated. Customers of other small carriers like UScellular and Consumer Cellular reported similar issues.

Affected users reported receiving the SOS message on their phones, rendering them unable to make calls or access services. The complaints encompassed difficulties with calls, texts, and internet access, with a majority of reports indicating a complete lack of service or signal. 

Notably, some users also faced challenges with 911 service, prompting officials to advise the use of a landline, social media, or a cell phone with a different carrier in case of an emergency.

In summary, a widespread mobile service outage affected tens of thousands of users across the US, primarily impacting AT&T customers, with the issue extending to smaller carriers. The cause of the outage remains unexplained, and affected users are encouraged to use alternative communication methods until services are fully restored.