Over 60,000 customers affected by AT&T, Verizon and Cricket Wireless outages: How to stay connected

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 file photo a staff member holds a Huawei 'Mate20 X 5G' smartphone at the IFA 2019 tech fair in Berlin, Germany. A new report says Israeli-made Pegasus spyware was used in Jordan to hack the cellphones of nearly three dozen people including journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. The digital rights group Access Now said the hacking with spyware made by the NSO Group occurred from early 2020 until November. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file) (Michael Sohn, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

HOUSTON – More than 60,000 customers are experiencing cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers Thursday morning, which can be difficult when most of us depend on our phones for a lot of things.

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If you find yourself unable to use your device and it’s an emergency or you’re in dire need of contacting someone, here’s what you should do:

  • Check for Service Outages: Visit the website of your service provider or use outage tracking websites like Downdetector to see if there are reported outages in your area.
  • Restart Your Device: Try turning off your cellular device and then turning it back on again. This can sometimes resolve temporary connectivity issues.
  • Use Wi-Fi Calling: If available, enable Wi-Fi calling on your device. This allows you to make calls and send texts over a Wi-Fi network instead of relying on cellular service.
  • Contact Your Service Provider: If the outage persists or if you need further assistance, reach out to your service provider’s customer support. They can provide information on the status of the outage and assist you with troubleshooting steps.
  • Utilize Alternative Communication Channels: If you have access to a different device or communication method (such as a landline or internet-based messaging apps), use them as an alternative means of communication while your cellular service is disrupted.
  • Stay Updated: Follow your service provider’s social media accounts or check their website for updates on the outage and estimated time for service restoration.

Remember, it is important to stay patient during an outage as service providers work to resolve the issue.


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