A widespread AT&T outage affecting emergency services, with reports from various departments and users across different states. Some users were unable to make or receive calls, including to 911. While alternative methods like texting 911 were suggested, frustration and concerns were expressed by affected individuals, including worries about livelihoods and speculation about the cause of the outage.
More than 50,000 incidents reported in the early hours of the morning have disrupted emergency services across several United States cities. The disruptions affected the primary telecommunications services of the country, including major providers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
AT&T: Hardest Hit
AT&T, the largest mobile phone company in the US, emerged as the worst affected during the early hours of Thursday. Reports indicate a significant impact on its services.
Data from the outage tracking website Downdetector.com revealed that more than 50,000 incidents were recorded around 7 AM East Coast time (12:00 GMT). The affected cities spanned across the nation, including San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston.
AT&T has acknowledged the issue, stating that some of its customers were indeed experiencing interruptions in their wireless services. Meanwhile, T-Mobile asserted that it did not suffer from any outages and maintained that its network was operating normally. However, users of T-Mobile did report encountering problems.
Impact on Emergency Services
The San Francisco Fire Department highlighted the consequences of the outage, stating that it hindered people’s ability to reach emergency services. The department specifically mentioned the inability of AT&T wireless customers to make and receive phone calls, including calls to the 911 emergency number. They assured that they were actively monitoring the situation.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in Florida recognized the challenge and encouraged affected AT&T users to utilize text messaging to reach 911. They assured the public that texts to 911 were being received, providing an alternative means of communication during emergencies.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina acknowledged the outage but stated that it had not experienced any disruptions in receiving emergency calls. They provided reassurance regarding their continued ability to respond to emergencies. Read More
User Frustrations and Concerns
Amidst the outage, users expressed frustration and concern on social media platforms . Some AT&T users reported being stuck in SOS mode on their iPhones due to the loss of connection. One user voiced concern about the impact on their livelihood, citing a family member who drives for Uber and relies on cell service for work. Questions were raised regarding potential refunds from AT&T, while others speculated about the outage being linked to missed phone bill payments.
The widespread cellular outages during the early morning hours have not only disrupted regular communication but also impacted emergency services. While AT&T grapples with the aftermath of the outage, other providers like T-Mobile strive to maintain normalcy amidst user-reported issues.
