Verizon Restores Service After Nationwide Outage, Blames Software Issue; Offers $20 Credit
Verizon restored service after a Jan. 14 nationwide outage that left millions without calls or data; company cites software issue and will issue $20 credits.
Overview
On Jan. 14, millions of Verizon customers nationwide reported service loss; Downdetector logged up to 1.5 million user reports at the outage's peak.
Many users saw 'SOS' or no signal, unable to call or use mobile data; some maintained communication via Wi‑Fi calling, iMessage or third‑party messaging apps.
Problems concentrated in major metros — New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and Atlanta — disrupting navigation, deliveries and gig‑economy work.
Verizon called the incident a 'software issue', restored service late that night, is conducting a full review, and advised affected customers to restart devices to reconnect.
The FCC is monitoring and investigating; Verizon will offer $20 credits to eligible customers; experts say cloud‑based networks increase outage risk and recommend backup communication plans.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present straightforward, fact-based reporting, emphasizing official statements (Verizon, FCC), independent data (Downdetector), and expert explanation of software-related risks. Editorial language is restrained; uncertainty and mitigating context are stated, and multiple perspectives are included, producing a largely neutral, non-partisan account.
Sources (19)
FAQ
Verizon attributed the outage to a software issue, with no indication of a cyber security incident.
The outage lasted approximately 10 hours, starting around 12:30 PM ET on January 14 and resolving by 10:15 PM ET.
Customers can redeem the $20 account credit by logging into the myVerizon app to accept it; they will receive a text message when available.
The FCC is monitoring and investigating the incident.
Problems were concentrated in major metros including New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta.
History
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