Over 70,000 AT&T customers have suffered outrages on their network. This is not exclusive to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company; Verizon and T-Mobile clients have also had trouble trying to connect to the Internet and receive calls with their mobile phones.
In total, more than 115 million users in the US could have been affected by AT&T’s blackout since Wednesday October 22, 2024.
While AT&T stated that the company is working urgently to restore the networks outrages, they haven’t disclosed yet what caused the communications blackout.
The malfunction in the mobile network remains a mystery, and citizens affected can only speculate about the reason. This outrage has not occurred in a specific area, but in several major cities of the United States, including New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Houston and Chicago.
The cellular company started to experience disruptions in their normal activity at around 1pm ET, according to the online outrage monitor website Downdetector. Soon, users started reporting not being able to use their mobile phones for calls or connecting to the Internet. Some users even reported issues on their internet and phone landline.
On other companies, clients also had difficulty with their intermittent network connection. 68%of customers from Mobile Phone experienced issues. Other smaller companies, such as Mobile Internet and Mobile Phone, had an incidence rate of 15% and 17% each.
The few users who were able to connect to the Internet made their voices known on X (formerly known as Twitter). Many pointed out that friends affected had their smartphones automatically set to SOS-mode, so only emergency calls could be made.
After years of digitalisation, the sudden outrage in mobile networks have left many Americans stranded and unable to navigate their daily life until the signal was restored. Many AT&T fretted on social media that they needed their phones and Internet connection back soon, since doctor appointments, court hearings and other important engagements could not be postponed.
With only 25-30% of Americans still having a landline phone in their homes, the sudden malfunctioning of mobile networks resulted in a chaos. After all, 42% of Americans have been born after 1990, and are a generation that has taken the mobile phone for granted.
As of Friday October 25, 2024, AT&T has reported it has restored the communication network successfully. Apparently the issue began due to an internal network error during system updates. The company gave priority to restoring emergency services –firefighter stations, the 911 phone line, hospitals networks– and then stabilising the remaining services for private businesses and civilians.
How to prepare for a communication outrage
While having to endure an Internet and phone blackout is extremely annoying, there are a few things you can do to be prepared in case one occurs. If you have been affected by the AT&T outrage, here are some strategies so that the next one doesn’t catch you off guard:
Have Backup Power Sources
Keep power banks charged to support your mobile devices during an outage. Consider investing in solar chargers for extended blackouts.
Download Essential Information
Keep offline any information you need for your everyday life. Google Maps offers offline navegation on already downloaded areas. Also store digital copies of important documents on your device, and print them out for easy access.
Set Up Alternative Communication Methods
There are apps that work on Wi-Fi, like Zello and Bridgefy
Prepare Emergency Contact Information
Do as generations before you did and keep a small telephone notebook. Write down important phone numbers, including family members, close friends, workplace phone numbers, neighbours and all emergency services. During an outage, these contacts can be lifesaving.
Stock Up on Basic Supplies:
Keep a supply of essentials such as food, water, medications, and first-aid items, as access to resources may be limited during extended blackouts. Also, consider a battery-operated or hand-crank radio to stay informed.
Create a plan with your community
Plan ahead with your family and friends on how to reconnect if separated. Tell your children where to wait for you, or who to ask for help if phones do not for a long period of time. Choose a central meeting place and assign someone outside the area as a check-in contact in case local networks are down.
Install a landline
When connected directly to a phone jack, traditional landline phones have a higher probability of working during power outrages. During the last communication blackout, only 13% of these old-school phones suffered issues.
