If you’re a Verizon customer, you probably came across wireless network issues on Monday, September 30. Earlier this morning, numerous users reported an outage to DownDetector, and the number of reports skyrocketed to more than 100,000 by noon. Naturally, consumers wanted to know what caused today’s Verizon outage and when the service would be restored. After all, no one can make phone calls when they see the dreaded “SOS” signal on their devices.
Why Is Verizon Having an Outage?
At the time of publication, it’s still unclear what caused the nationwide outage. Verizon confirmed that the company was “aware” of the widespread issue in a statement shared via X (formerly known as Twitter).
“We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers,” Verizon tweeted, adding, “Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue.”
We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue.
— Verizon News (@VerizonNews) September 30, 2024
How Many Verizon Customers Reported Issues?
More than 100,000 customers reported the outage via DownDetector after 12 p.m. on Monday, September 30. However, social media indicated that there were possibly many unreported outages. Based on the countless tweets that users were sharing, it appeared that numerous users were experiencing the Verizon issue.
The number in outage reports on DownDetector decreased to about 50,000 in the afternoon. According to the website, the most reported locations were Chicago, Illinois, Phoenix, Arizona, Denver, Colorado, Seattle, Washington, Indianapolis, Indiana, Los Angeles, Omaha, Nebraska, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Las Vegas.
What Does SOS Mean on a Phone?
According to Apple, the signal “SOS” is an indication that the cellular network is available for emergency calls but not for other types of calls. Whenever a device has the “SOS” signal, it typically means they cannot send text messages or call anyone else.
Is Verizon Working Now?
Verizon customers are still reporting outages at the time of publication. Therefore, most users still can’t use their wireless network.
When Will Verizon Be Restored?
There is no set time that Verizon estimates a complete restoration. However, according to one social media user, they received a message about a “potential network disruption” and was told they’d “know more within 12 hours.” The message also allegedly encouraged the customer to use WiFi calls.