Millions of Americans woke up frustrated and disconnected on Thursday morning, February 22nd, as a widespread AT&T outage paralyzed their internet and cellular service. The disruption, reported around 3:30 AM Eastern Time, stretched across the country, hitting major cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas particularly hard.
While the situation is improving, with Downdetector.com showing a decrease in complaints from over 70,000 to around 65,000, many users remain in the dark, anxiously asking: when will the internet be back?
When is AT&T going to fix the outage today?
Here’s what we know:
- Limited information: AT&T has acknowledged the outage but hasn’t provided a specific timeline for full restoration. They claim three-quarters of their network is back online, but many users still face issues.
- No clear cause: The reason for the outage remains a mystery. AT&T is investigating the root cause, but the lack of transparency leaves users frustrated and concerned.
- Widespread impact: The outage wasn’t limited to internet access. Many users reported difficulties with calls, texts, and even reaching 911, highlighting the critical role of these services in daily life and emergencies.
- Ripple effects: Even carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile were not immune, experiencing minor impacts due to difficulties connecting with AT&T users. This underscores the interconnectedness of modern communication networks.
What does AT&T say about it?
AT&T has been somewhat tight-lipped about the details, acknowledging the problem and saying its teams are working “urgently” to restore service, a spokesperson for the brand told the New York Times.
They’ve encouraged customers to use Wi-Fi calling where possible, but details on the cause of the outage or a definitive timeline for resolution remain scarce.
Public safety communications were notably impacted, with emergency services, including the San Francisco Fire Department, advising AT&T customers to use landlines or alternative methods to reach 911 services. The outage’s ripple effect was felt across various sectors, with businesses, healthcare services, and even alarm notifications experiencing significant disruptions.
The silence from AT&T regarding the root cause of the failure and the lack of a clear restoration timeline has left many customers frustrated and anxious. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our heavily relied upon telecommunications infrastructure and the need for robust contingency plans.
