The ATT, T-Mobile, and Verizon outage is ruining travelers holidays. Right now, travelers relying on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are facing a major challenge: an international roaming outage. This disruption, caused by problems with a key partner called Syniverse, is affecting their ability to make calls, send texts, and use data services while abroad.

As frustrated travelers share their experiences on social media, carriers and Syniverse are working hard to fix the issue. Here is what has been done so far.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon outage: What is happening right now?

The recent outage affecting AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers while traveling internationally stemmed from issues with a third-party vendor called Syniverse. Customers traveling abroad experienced disruptions in making calls, sending texts, and using cellular data services.

Syniverse is a company that provides services to mobile network operators, helping them manage and facilitate international roaming, messaging, and other telecommunications services across different networks globally. They play a crucial role in ensuring seamless connectivity for mobile users traveling internationally. They act as a bridge between various telecommunications networks to enable smooth communication and data services outside their home countries.

Customers expressed frustration on social media, sharing stories of being stranded without means to communicate or navigate in foreign countries. Some described the situation as “dangerous,” emphasizing the need for a quick solution. Public figures like actor Patrick Schwarzenegger also highlighted the issue, drawing attention to its widespread impact on travelers.

Does anyone else have @Verizon and overseas?? Everyone I’m with phone just fully stopped working… anyone else??

— Patrick Schwarzenegger (@PSchwarzenegger) June 27, 2024

How did carriers respond?

• T-Mobile: Acknowledged the problem as stemming from a third-party vendor issue affecting their international roaming service intermittently. They assured customers of active collaboration with Syniverse to resolve the outage promptly.
• AT&T: Confirmed disruptions for their mobile customers abroad, attributing the issue to problems outside their network. They are actively working with Syniverse to restore normal service.
• Verizon: Reported that around 30% of its customers were unable to make international calls due to the outage. They are engaged in efforts to restore full service and minimize customer inconvenience. You can contact them by clicking here.

Syniverse’s response

Syniverse acknowledged the problem and assured customers and carriers that they were working hard to fix the connectivity issues. They appreciated customers’ patience during this disruption and emphasized their commitment to restoring normal service as soon as possible.

What can you do now if you are affected?

During an outage affecting AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, there are several steps you can take to stay connected and manage the situation:

• Use Wi-Fi: Switch to Wi-Fi networks where available to access internet-based services like email, messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram), and social media.

• Use messaging apps: Use messaging apps that work over Wi-Fi or data services, such as WhatsApp, Signal, or Facebook Messenger, to communicate with others.
• Local SIM card: Consider purchasing a local SIM card if you’re staying in a country for an extended period. This allows you to use local networks for calls, texts, and data.
• Use VoIP services: Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services like Skype, Zoom, or Google Voice for making calls over Wi-Fi or data.
• Offline maps: Download offline maps before traveling to navigate without relying on real-time data.
• Contact support: Contact your carrier’s customer support through alternative means (online chat, social media) for updates and assistance.
• Stay informed: Follow official channels and news updates for information on when the outage is expected to be resolved.
• Alternative communication: Use email or social media to update family and friends about your situation if voice calls are not possible.

By taking these steps, you can mitigate the impact of the outage and stay connected during periods of disrupted mobile services.

A recap for the ATT, T-Mobile, and Verizon outage: The recent outage affecting AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers traveling internationally was caused by connectivity issues with Syniverse, a third-party vendor handling their international roaming services. This disruption prevented travelers from making calls, sending texts, or using data outside the United States. T-Mobile acknowledged the problem as intermittent, stemming from issues with their vendor, and assured customers of ongoing efforts to resolve it swiftly. AT&T and Verizon also confirmed disruptions, with Verizon reporting about 30% of its customers affected. Syniverse has been actively working with network partners to restore service, while affected customers have turned to social media to express frustration and seek updates.

All images are generated by Eray Eliaçık/Bing

Hey, did you get your ATT outage credit? Following Thursday’s big AT&T service problem that left many customers without phone or internet access, there’s talk about what AT&T is doing to compensate for it.

The ATT outage cause is a network misconfiguration, according to AT&T. This means there was probably a mistake or error in how their network was set up rather than an intentional cyberattack or other external interference. The company has said they’ll give affected customers a credit as a way to say sorry for the trouble.

Based on our initial review, we believe the outage was caused by the application & execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack. We are continuing our assessment to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve.

— AT&T News (@ATTNEWS) February 23, 2024

Is ATT giving credit for the outage?

Yes, AT&T is offering affected customers a “make it right” credit as compensation for the outage experienced on Thursday. In this particular instance, following Thursday’s outage which left many AT&T customers unable to make calls, send texts, or use the internet on their mobile phones for hours, AT&T announced that impacted customers would receive an automatic “make it right” credit.

We recognize the frustration Thursday’s outage caused & know we let many of our customers down. To help make it right, we are applying a credit to potentially impacted accounts to help reassure our customers of our commitment to reliably connect them – anytime and anywhere. It…

— AT&T News (@ATTNEWS) February 25, 2024

This credit is equivalent to the average cost of a day’s service and is intended to acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the outage. It will typically be applied within two bill cycles to affected wireless accounts, although it does not extend to AT&T Business, AT&T Prepaid, or Cricket customers.

The purpose of the credit is to provide some form of compensation to affected users and demonstrate AT&T’s commitment to customer satisfaction. Additionally, the credit serves as a gesture of goodwill from the company, acknowledging the disruption and inconvenience experienced by customers during the outage.

It’s important to note that while the credit may help alleviate some of the frustration caused by the outage, its announcement has elicited mixed reactions from users, with some appreciating the gesture while others consider it insufficient. Nonetheless, the ATT outage credit represents the company’s effort to address the impact of the outage and maintain positive relationships with its customer base.

How much is the ATT credit for the outage?

The credit announced by AT&T for the outage is $5, which the company referred to as a “make it right” credit, representing the average cost of a day’s service for affected customers.

How to get the ATT outage credit

To receive the ATT outage credit, affected customers do not need to take any action. The credit will be applied automatically to their wireless accounts within two bill cycles, as stated by AT&T in its announcement. Therefore, customers who experienced service disruptions during the outage period will see the credit reflected on their bills without needing to request it separately. AT&T trying to reach out the affected customers at the moment.

Hi E, we’re reaching out to potentially impacted customers by SMS or email to proactively credit them for the average cost of a full day of service. Go to https://t.co/NJaBTwyXkk for more details.

— AT&T News (@ATTNEWS) February 26, 2024

It’s important to note that the credit does not apply to AT&T Business, AT&T Prepaid, or Cricket customers, as specified by the company.

Is ATT outage credit enough?

Whether the ATT outage credit is enough depends on individual perspectives and experiences. For some customers, the $5 credit may be seen as a gesture of goodwill from the company, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the outage. However, others may feel that it falls short of adequately compensating for the disruption and inconvenience they experienced.

A single $5 credit per account with multiple phones is an insult. You failed here @ATTNEWS.

— Glenn Gossett (@GlennGossett_) February 25, 2024

From our perspective, we can not see such gestures in other cases. So, it’s a good thing. However, the adequacy of the credit is subjective and may vary among affected customers.

A recap to the ATT outage

The AT&T outage, which occurred on February 22nd, 2024, led to widespread disruptions for customers across the nation, affecting communication services such as calls, texts, and internet access. While initial suspicions of a cyberattack were dispelled, investigations revealed that a software update error was the primary cause of the outage. The outage prompted swift action from federal agencies, including the FBI and DHS, and AT&T worked diligently to restore service to affected customers. Despite disruptions for more than 70,000 users at its peak, wireless service has been successfully restored, with investigations into the cause ongoing.

For more detailed information, click here.

Featured image credit: Chad Morehead/Unsplash