MONADNOCK REGION, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Wireless service disruptions hit Verizon customers nationwide Wednesday, leaving many users unable to place calls or access mobile data for hours.

According to CBS News, reports began surfacing around midday on the East Coast, with customers saying their phones suddenly showed “SOS” or emergency-only status, a mode that appears when a device cannot connect to its primary network. Verizon later acknowledged the problem, saying it was aware of a network issue affecting some wireless voice and data services.

In a statement provided to CBS News, a company spokesperson said technical teams were working to pinpoint the cause and restore service as quickly as possible. The spokesperson apologized for the disruption, noting that reliable connectivity is critical for customers.

Outage-tracking website Downdetector recorded a sharp spike in complaints, with reports climbing past 180,000 at the height of the disruption. Users from across the country, from the Northeast to the West Coast, described dropped connections and an inability to make routine calls or send messages.

The service issues had ripple effects beyond Verizon. While some T-Mobile customers also reported problems, a company spokesperson said its network was functioning normally. However, the spokesperson acknowledged that T-Mobile users might have trouble reaching people on Verizon’s network while the outage persisted.

In New York City, emergency officials warned that the disruption could interfere with some calls to 911. The city’s Emergency Management department advised anyone unable to connect using a Verizon device to try another carrier’s phone, use a landline, or go directly to a police precinct or fire station in an emergency.

Phones typically enter SOS mode when they cannot access their home network but are still able to place emergency calls by connecting to other carriers, according to Apple. Verizon has faced similar widespread service interruptions in the past, including incidents reported in August 2025 and October 2024.