On Feb 22, 2024, a national outage of AT&T service prevented users from calling, texting, and accessing cellular data. Around 4 AM EST, customers on various social media platforms began to report an “SOS only” message pertaining to cell service usage. The shortage affected an estimated 70,000 customers at one point, with network coverage returning to customers at about 3 PM EST.
AT&T has now released information detailing that the outage was caused by “the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network.” AT&T advised customers to make calls via wifi. 911 centers and Emergency Response centers reported the issues extended to them, cautioning people to call from a landline or ask someone else to call for them. 911 call centers also reported a surge in calls as a result of people testing their cellular services. The service outage has since highlighted the nation’s dependency on cellular service, and weaknesses within the emergency response system.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had also been urgently investigating the matter to determine if the nationwide outage was a result of a nefarious cyber attack or hack, or a technical malfunction. However, by 5 AM EST in the morning of Feb 22, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a division operating within the DHS reported in a private memo that the “cause of the outage is unknown that there are no indications of malicious activity.”
The company issued an apology to customers in a later statement.
“We sincerely apologize to them (customers),” said the AT&T website. “Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future.”
AT&T’s share price went down by more than 2% as a result of the outage.
