# Major cell service outage {2024-02-22} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [February 22, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945 "2024-02-22T14:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/21 "2024-02-22T15:19:43Z")
No clue, but for every AT&T user in this area, I’m guessing there are 5 Verizon users. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/22 "2024-02-22T15:21:19Z")
Since this may be the start of the zombie apocalypse, if I may pass on a great comment I saw yesterday… any zombie movie will no longer seem realistic unless there are crowds of people running toward the zombies trying to get bitten because they think it’s a Liberal hoax. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/23 "2024-02-22T15:22:14Z")
Well, the ZA hasn’t made it to China yet. That’s what I glean from the fact my cell phone has service. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/24 "2024-02-22T15:25:50Z")
AT&T in the SFBA CA USA. All systems are a Go. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/25 "2024-02-22T15:29:21Z")
Tried to call out from southern Minnesota, got “no network connection, emergency calls only”. Text messages only get a “Sending” waiting notification. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/26 "2024-02-22T15:34:06Z")
No mobile service in Fort Worth, noticed it about 3:30amCT. Using AT&T and a Galaxy S20. No issues with AT&T fiber internet this morning so (for better or worse) I can still work today. The VOIP stuff is running just fine. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/27 "2024-02-22T15:34:07Z")
My Consumer Cellular uses AT&T cell service and it is out. Went out about 6AM. Almost 4 hours ago. Little Rock area ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/28 "2024-02-22T15:50:06Z")
ok this explains why I’m seeing a tons of staff (nationwide) doing test pings on our crisis response service at work. For a few minutes I thought we were having some black swan event. Glad to know it’s just, um… all of AT&T? That’s still not great. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/29 "2024-02-22T16:09:49Z")
Verified that my Boost Mobile is still working, when I remembered I have a landline I could use as a test call recipient. No reason to think DH has any problem with his phone (same carrier and model). ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/30 "2024-02-22T16:18:36Z")
SE Michigan here-- we are on Cricket, which uses the AT&T network. Still down as of 11:15 EST. > [@Riemann](#): > > …this may be the start of the zombie apocalypse… First thing my son said this morning was ‘it’s a cyberattack!’ The [CNN article](https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/tech/att-cell-service-outage/index.html) that @Seanette shared upthread says: > There’s no indication that Thursday’s outage was the result of a cyberattack or other malicious activity, the industry source said. …but who knows if AT&T would admit if it was. Not to suggest anything or start any untoward rumors, just sayin’. Funny how, if it was the _ **internet** _ that was down I’d be a lot more ‘_ **oh noes, the sky is falling** _’, but with the phone down yet internet just fine, my attitude is more 'eh, kinda nice not to have a ringing phone for awhile". ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/31 "2024-02-22T16:24:50Z")
Chicagoland here. No cell or messaging service available, just the “SOS” flag. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/32 "2024-02-22T16:30:38Z")
Russian satellite. ElectroMagnetic Pulse. Just sayin’… [adjusts aluminum foil ball cap…] ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/33 "2024-02-22T16:30:52Z")
Verizon, Finger Lakes area NY state. Just called my landline from my cell and it rang just fine. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/34 "2024-02-22T16:45:05Z")
Maybe we finally figured out what this switch does… 😀 [https://youtu.be/-sxD0J2NysI?si=uTivW12kdnSja1Dk](https://youtu.be/-sxD0J2NysI?si=uTivW12kdnSja1Dk) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/35 "2024-02-22T16:54:12Z")
Verizon, inside my warehouse in Boise ID 5 bars of LTE A few years ago, I would have said the difference between ATT and VZW was the cell technology but I _think_ they’ve sort of converged these days, haven’t they? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/36 "2024-02-22T16:54:16Z")
> [@txtumbleweed](#): > > Maybe we finally figured out what this switch does… 😀 Or maybe AT&T should check their garage for any switches that got shut off: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iXaw70X7wb4/maxresdefault.jpg "Christmas Vacation Lights Scene HD SFW") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXaw70X7wb4) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/37 "2024-02-22T16:57:18Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Just called my landline from my cell and it rang just fine. If you didn’t say “_The call is coming from inside the house!_” I will be deeply disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/38 "2024-02-22T16:57:30Z")
Update: we’re just now back up in the SE Michigan area. Can call and text again. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/39 "2024-02-22T17:32:37Z")
I’m watching my mid day channel 7 news. The lead story is the widespread AT&T outage. I’m still out at almost noon. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/40 "2024-02-22T17:59:24Z")
Back up in Dallas. My wife’s phone was working fine, so I restarted mine, and it came back online with normal service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945.md?page=3)