World

Mobile phone network outages hit thousands in US

By AAP Newswire

Feb 23, 2024

Cyclist holds mobile phone — Users of US mobile phone networks AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular have reported outages. -AP

A mobile phone outage has hit thousands of AT&T users in the United States, disrupting calls and text messages as well as emergency services in major cities including San Francisco.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

More than 50,000 incidents were reported about 7am ET on Thursday, according to data from outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

Users of Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular also reported disruptions although the outage with the services was much smaller than AT&T, according to Downdetector.

The outage was affecting people's ability to reach emergency services by dialing 911, a post on social media platform X from the San Francisco Fire Department said.

We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911). — SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) 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 February 22, 2024

"We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911)," the fire department said on the platform.

The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on the reason behind the outages.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press