Cellular data outages are not uncommon, but the recent outage that affected millions of Verizon customers was on a much larger scale. On January 14, approximately two million Verizon cellular customers were left without data and cellular services, including the ability to make emergency calls.
The outages were primarily reported along the East Coast, starting around 10 am EST. However, the outage was nationwide, impacting cities such as Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. I was one of the affected Verizon customers, and the experience was incredibly frustrating.
Verizon has acknowledged the outage and promised a thorough review of the situation, but specific details have not been shared yet. Mobile network outages can be caused by technical issues, server failures, infrastructure damage, or cyberattacks. Verizon has stated that their engineers identified and resolved a software issue – specifically a server failure in New Jersey – rather than a cyber event.
In a statement released on X, Verizon expressed,
Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves. To provide some relief to those affected, we will offer a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed through the myVerizon app.
If you are a Verizon customer, here’s how you can claim the credit.
Verizon customers with an iPhone running iOS 16 or newer who were affected by the outage likely saw “SOS Only” on their status bar, indicating that their device was disconnected from the Verizon network but could still make emergency calls on other carrier networks. While this feature is essential for emergency connectivity, seeing it in a bustling city was a stark reminder of the complete service loss.
As the news circulated on X, various brands seized the opportunity to capitalize on the frustration, extending beyond carrier rivals. Even Krispy Kreme joined the conversation.
Krispy Kreme offered a free doughnut between 5 and 7 p.m. yesterday through an Instagram post, suggesting, “SOS got you down?…because some days need a sweet backup plan you can rely on.”
T-Mobile also joined the conversation. While some T-Mobile customers reported outages, the company swiftly addressed them.
This is the first significant service disruption I’ve encountered in over a decade as a Verizon customer, so it’s challenging to complain. However, it highlights the potential seriousness of future disruptions stemming from failing infrastructure or, worse, cyberattacks. Hopefully, all mobile carriers view yesterday’s outage as an opportunity to enhance their services and keep customers connected. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating the matter and has pledged to take action if necessary. We will monitor the situation and keep you informed.
