DALLAS (Diya TV) — AT&T has successfully restored its wireless network services after a significant outage disrupted cellphone connectivity for users across the United States. The outage, which affected tens of thousands of customers and caused concerns about disruptions to emergency services like 911 dispatches, began in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to reports from downdetector.com, the outage peaked at over 73,000 reports of disrupted service, with major cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York experiencing significant impacts. While the cause of the outage is still under investigation, AT&T confirmed that it has fully restored service to all affected customers by late afternoon Eastern time.
“We sincerely apologize to them,” AT&T stated in an email to NPR, emphasizing their commitment to prioritizing customer connectivity and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The outage prompted responses from various government agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). While investigations are ongoing, officials have indicated that there is currently no evidence to suggest malicious activity or a cyberattack.
In response to the outage, alternative communication methods were recommended for reaching emergency services, with local governments urging residents to utilize landlines or Wi-Fi-enabled phones if unable to connect via cellular networks. Despite disruptions, AT&T’s emergency services network, FirstNet, was reported to be fully operational by mid-morning.
While AT&T worked to restore service, other major wireless carriers such as Verizon and T-Mobile reported minimal disruptions to their networks. However, some users experienced difficulties when attempting to communicate with customers served by other carriers.
