Major Verizon Outages Hit Chicago and Nationwide: Over 20,000 Reports on Downdetector

Verizon

Verizon Experiences Widespread Outages in Chicago and Across the U.S.

On Monday morning, Chicago residents faced significant disruptions as hundreds of Verizon outages were reported, contributing to a staggering total of over 70,000 outages nationwide. The outage surge began around 7:15 a.m. and quickly escalated, with Downdetector recording more than 700 issues in the Chicago area by 9:15 a.m.

As the morning progressed, reports flooded in from various cities, including Indianapolis, New York City, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Omaha. Many users took to Downdetector, noting their devices were intermittently displaying "SOS" mode—a signal that their phones were unable to connect to the Verizon network.

While Verizon had not yet addressed the outages on their social media platforms, the company did respond to several users on Twitter, acknowledging the situation and offering assistance. “We understand the importance of staying connected and would be happy to take a look at what's occurring,” they stated.

What Does "SOS" Mode Mean?

The "SOS" mode on devices appears when a phone is not connected to its cellular network, but it allows users to make emergency calls using other carriers' networks. According to Apple, this feature is specifically designed for emergency situations, automatically connecting to local emergency numbers and sharing the caller's location with emergency services.

For iPhone users, those on models 14 and later have the additional capability to use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is unavailable.

As of 9:30 a.m., Verizon had not responded to NBC Chicago’s inquiry regarding the outages. As the situation continues to develop, users are encouraged to check for updates directly from Verizon or Downdetector.

Major Verizon Outages Hit Chicago and Nationwide: Over 20,000 Reports on Downdetector