A widespread service disruption struck Verizon Communications on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of customers across the United States without reliable connectivity. The outage, which began in the early afternoon Eastern Time, was tracked by the popular website Downdetector.com.
Scale and Scope of the Service Disruption
According to data from Downdetector, which aggregates user-reported issues, there were more than 130,000 incident reports related to Verizon's services around 1:11 p.m. ET. The company quickly acknowledged the problem, stating its engineering teams were actively working to identify and solve the underlying issue. Verizon apologized for the inconvenience, emphasizing its understanding of the importance of reliable service.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the company's official news account provided an update: "Verizon engineering teams are continuing to address today's service interruptions. Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on the issue. We understand the impact this has on your day and remain committed to resolving this as quickly as possible."
Other Carriers and Historical Context
The outage tracking service also noted smaller-scale reports for other major carriers, with over 1,700 incidents each for rivals T-Mobile and AT&T. Representatives from AT&T and T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether their networks were experiencing related problems.
This incident is a troubling echo of a previous major failure. In late 2024, Verizon faced a nationwide wireless outage that impacted over 100,000 users at its peak. That event was severe enough to draw scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), particularly after it affected emergency services and left many iPhone users stranded in "SOS" mode.
Understanding Outage Reports
It is important to note that the figures on Downdetector represent user-submitted reports and may not reflect the exact number of affected customers. The actual scope of the outage could differ. However, the volume of reports provides a clear indicator of a significant service disruption affecting a broad user base.
As of the latest updates, Verizon's teams remain engaged in restoration efforts. The company has not provided an estimated time for full resolution, leaving many customers and businesses awaiting a return to normal service. This event underscores the critical reliance on telecommunications infrastructure and the widespread impact when a major provider experiences downtime.
