AT&T has restored wireless service to all of its customers that were affected by a network outage earlier today (February 22).
In an emailed statement to Kiplinger this afternoon, a spokesperson for the telecom giant said that it apologizes to those customers.
"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," the spokesperson said.
The outage began in the early morning hours and was ongoing through most of the morning for some customers as AT&T said it was working "urgently" to restore service. At the time, a company spokesperson urged affected customers to use Wi-Fi calling until service was restored. The spokesperson declined to comment on what caused the outage or when service could be fully restored.
According to Downdetector, an online platform that tracks outages, the outage began at 4 a.m. EST. Customers of Verizon and T-Mobile also reported outages but their issues may be due to problems at AT&T, Downdetector said.
Verizon and T-Mobile spokespeople told Kiplinger in emails that their respective services are operating normally and that some customers have had issues when trying to call or text users of other carriers.
What to do if you’re experiencing an outage
If you’re an AT&T customer and are experiencing an outage, the company recommends using Wi-Fi calling and texting until service is restored.
To activate Wi-Fi calling on your device, follow these steps:
- Swipe down twice on your notification bar and select the settings icon.
- Select "network & internet" and then slide the Wi-Fi Calling switch.
- Review the pop-up prompt and select "Continue" to enter your emergency address, then verify your address.
You can call AT&T wireless customer service at 1-800-331-0500.
You could, however, be on hold for quite some time. A notice on the company's website states: “Some customers in your area are having trouble making or receiving calls. As a result, we are experiencing long hold times. We apologize for this inconvenience and we are working to resolve this issue.”
Can’t call 9-1-1? Do this:
If there’s an emergency and you cannot call 9-1-1 from your device, local government agencies such as the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security recommend calling from a landline or asking a friend or family member to call on your behalf.
