Highlights
- Widespread Verizon outages were reported nationwide, including in Chicago.
- Over 70,000 outage reports nationwide by Monday morning.
- “SOS” mode appears on phones, indicating disconnection from the network.
- Outages affect major cities like New York, Indianapolis, and Atlanta.
- Verizon has responded to customers but has not released an official statement.
Verizon customers across the U.S., including Chicago, are experiencing widespread service outages.
The problems began early Monday morning, with thousands of users affected in major cities.
According to Downdetector, reports of Verizon outages started around 7:15 a.m. in Chicago, and by 9:15 a.m., over 700 users in the city had reported issues.
Nationwide, more than 20,000 Verizon outages were recorded, with the number spiking to over 70,000 by 9:30 a.m.
Users reported seeing “SOS” mode on their phones, indicating they were unable to connect to Verizon’s network.
This issue has been observed in cities like New York, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Omaha, causing widespread frustration.
While Verizon has responded to individual customer complaints on social media, the company has yet to release an official statement about the nationwide outage.
What is SOS Mode?
When phones display “SOS” mode, it means they are disconnected from their cellular network, but emergency calls can still be made through other carrier networks.
According to Apple, this feature is available in the U.S., Australia, and Canada. iPhone 14 and later models even support Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing users to contact emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is unavailable.
Verizon has acknowledged customer concerns, replying to numerous tweets with messages of support. However, as of now, no official cause or timeline for resolution has been provided.
Nationwide Outage Hits Major Cities
Chicago is one of the cities experiencing the most significant impact, with hundreds of reports flooding in from frustrated Verizon users.
Other cities reporting similar issues include New York, Indianapolis, and Omaha.
Many users have expressed concerns about the disruption, especially those who rely on Verizon for work or emergencies.
How to Stay Connected During an Outage
During a Verizon outage, users may experience limited or no access to their cellular network, but emergency calls are still possible using SOS mode.
It’s recommended to connect to Wi-Fi networks where possible or switch to alternative forms of communication, such as messaging apps that use internet data rather than cellular service.
