AT&T experiences massive outage across America

AT&T experienced a widespread network outage across the United States, leaving customers unable to make calls, send texts, or access the internet. While Verizon and T-Mobile also reported some outages, they were less extensive. AT&T acknowledged the outage but did not provide a reason for it, urging customers to use Wi-Fi calling until service was restored. The outage affected various emergency services, including 911 centers, prompting local governments to advise alternative methods for reaching emergency services. Although AT&T’s FirstNet network for first responders remained operational, the company’s commercial network was affected. Verizon and T-Mobile confirmed that their networks were unaffected by AT&T’s outage.

The cause of the outage was a software update gone awry rather than a cyberattack. AT&T confirmed that the outage was the result of an incorrect process during a network expansion and not a malicious attack. As a result, AT&T is conducting assessments to prevent a similar situation from reoccurring.

We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911).

We are actively engaged and monitoring this.

The San Francisco 911 center is still operational.

If you are an AT&T customer and cannot get through to 911,… pic.twitter.com/TUIEBkqmkI

— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) February 22, 2024