Disruption to mobile networks as AT&T goes down and iPhones stuck in SOS mode

22 February 2024 , 10:27

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Users have reported AT&T is down across the country

Customers across the US are facing major disruptions to their mobile phone service as several providers have gone down leaving many with phones stuck in SOS mode.

According to Downdetector, AT&T, Cricket Wireless, FirstNet, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Boost Mobile, Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk are all down. People have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their concern at the major disruption to US mobile networks.

One user wrote: "AT&T cellular service down. Downdetector reporting numerous cell services with issues. Is this a massive cyber attack on the cellular infrastructure? Was there a solar flare or satellite malfunction? The issue appears to be nationwide, if not international."

READ MORE: Emergency 911 services across the US crash with AT&T and other mobile networks down

Other AT&T customers have reported their iPhones being stuck in 'SOS' mode as a result of the outage. iPhones enter SOS mode when they lose cellular connection, allowing users to still make SOS calls or texts to emergency services on models from the iPhone 13 onwards.

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For live updates on AT&T and network outages in the US click here

Disruption to mobile networks as AT&T goes down and iPhones stuck in SOS mode

AT&T is just one of a number of providers which have gone down

Many Twitter users have grown suspicious of the mass outage impacting so many major providers at once. One user wrote: "Confirmation from around the US on a nationwide cellular network outage.

"Seems to have affected @ATT first, then later reports from other phones on @TMobile @Verizon and more. I can't imagine this is incompetence or a single node failure. Concerned it could be a #cyberattack."

Disruptions to people's services are being reported across the US, from LA to New York and Boston. AT&T has yet to comment on the outage. According to Downdetector, there was a spike in reported outages at around 4am Eastern time, with the number of AT&T outage reports peaking at 31,931 at around 4.30am.

Several police departments have warned people have been unable to call or text 911. Flagler County Sheriff's Office in Florida tweeted: "AT&T is experiencing an outage. Subscribers are unable to call or text 911."

Some users grew concerned their mobile service had been cut off due to a missed payment on their account. One person tweeted: "I did reset my phone three times and checked my bill payment twice @ATT what's happening? Your service down or what?"

Emergency services have reported residents being unable to contact them due to the outages

Beyond the disruption to mobile services, many users are facing disruptions to their internet services as well. Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, Houston, San Antonio, Honolulu, Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta have reported the most issues with their AT&T services.

Meanwhile, Verizon users in Philadelphia, Chicago, Brooklyn, Houston, New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Spokane and San Ramon have reported the most outages for their network. There have been around 1,500 outage reports made for Verizon.

Users took to Downdetector to share updates on their service, with several states such as North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois still experiencing issues. One user in Hawaii said: "Well back up in Hawaii with bars and internet but no outbound calling."

Users in Michigan, parts of California, and Seattle, among other areas, have started to report the return of some cell service. On Twitter trending topics have been dominated by the network outages, with #cyberattack, T-Mobile, Nationwide, Verizon and AT&T all trending.