A widespread Verizon Wireless network outage disrupted service for customers across the United States on Wednesday, leaving many unable to make calls, send texts, or access mobile data.
The outage began late morning and quickly spread across multiple states, with users reporting their phones displaying “SOS” mode — an indicator that devices were unable to connect to Verizon’s network and could only access emergency services through other carriers.
Major cities including Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and surrounding regions reported significant service interruptions. Customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey were among those affected, with many saying they completely lost cellular signal for several hours.
What Customers Are Experiencing
Impacted users reported:
No ability to place or receive phone calls Loss of mobile data service Text messages failing to send Phones stuck in “SOS” or “Emergency Calls Only” mode
Some customers said service briefly returned before dropping again, while others remained without connectivity for extended periods.
Verizon Responds
Verizon confirmed it is aware of the issue and said engineers are actively working to restore full service. The company apologized for the disruption but has not yet provided a specific timeline for when all customers can expect service to be fully restored.
Emergency Services Advisory
During the outage, some local emergency agencies advised residents to use landlines or alternative carriers if they needed to contact 911, as Verizon service interruptions could affect emergency calling in certain areas.
Developing Situation
As of Wednesday afternoon, outage reports were still coming in from multiple regions, though some customers have begun to see partial service restored.
Verizon has not yet released details on what caused the outage.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available
