Skip to main content

Verizon’s 4G network goes down, cripples Thunderbolts; [UPDATE] VZW identifies outage source

verizon-4g downVerizon’s 4G LTE network is experiencing a major national outage that has largely left its customers without service. The network went down sometime last night and remains unreachable, and unfortunately many users are also unable to connect to Verizon’s 3G service.

After ample speculation, Verizon launched its 4G LTE network in December 2010. While Verizon said it would roll out coverage over the course of the next three years, the original launch was nothing to scoff at, hitting 38 markets and 60 airports in its first wave. Since then, the carrier has introduced its first 4G phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, which debuted to almost instantaneous popularity and strong sales. Just last week Verizon announced it has sold approximately 500,000 4G devices since December, and its second LTE smartphone, the Droid Charge, is set to launch tomorrow.

Related Videos

All has been going according to Verizon’s 4G plan up until last night. The carrier has only commented on its 4G via Twitter: “We’re aware of an issue with 4G LTE connections & our network engineers are working to resolve quickly. Will update here.” Verizon also posted that Thunderbolts are now making voice calls, although any sort of data needs are still crawling.

Verizon’s user forums are full of customer complaints and confusion. One user reported after a call with Verizon support early this morning, there was no ETA for a solution. At the moment, Thunderbolts are operating at about a 1xRTT rate, or 1G. The 4G phone started at $199 with a Verizon contract and $699 without. The phone’s high-speed connectivity was responsible for much of its prestige, and its owners are understandably frustrated by their very expensive and now achingly slow phones.

Adding injury to insult is the fact that these users are having difficulty accessing Verizon’s 3G network. If you’re one of these forsaken phone owners, all may not be lost. According to Android Central, the problem is with Verizon’s Thunderbolt specific 3G/4G networks, and the 3G network its various other smartphones operate on is up and running as per usual. The site claims users can connect via 3G by following these steps:

  1. Dial ##778# and hit send.
  2. Enter the password: 000000
  3. This brings up your programming screen. Select “modem settings” and next “Rev a.” Change this to enabled and then hit “menu.”
  4. Reboot your phone, and you should then be connected to Verizon’s basic 3G network.

Various Twitter users have posted the fix, and it seems to be getting some decent recommendations so it’s worth a shot – at least until Verizon comes  up with a better solution.


[UPDATE]

Verizon says it has determined the source of the outage and is working on restoring service. Here’s the full statement, via Engadget.

We are aware of an issue with 4G LTE data connections and our network engineers are working to resolve this quickly. We have determined the cause of our issue and are working with our major vendors to restore connections.

* 4G LTE Smartphones will still be able to make calls.

* Customers are temporarily unable to activate any 4G LTE devices.

* Please note: Customers may experience a 1XRTT data connection during this time.

* After determining the cause of our 4G LTE network connection issue, we are continuing to work to restore connections.

* We expect to see the network restore on a market-by-market basis. Timing and additional details will be provided as they become available.

Editors' Recommendations

Best cell phone plan deals for January 2023
Woman

If you're searching for the best cell phone plan deals, you're in a good place. Competition among carriers makes unlimited wireless phone plans cheaper than ever. When cell service plan prices drop, often the way to get the best price is to switch to a new wireless carrier. There are so many plans available in surrounding areas that shopping for the best cell phone plan for home use can be very different from the best cell phone plan for small businesses. The process can be a time-consuming hassle. There are enough providers and data plans to make your head spin (not to mention all the smartphone deals and carrier offers you'll also come across). So, why not look for the best bargain? To save you time and money, we rounded up the best cellphone plan deals available right now.  If you're looking for 5G phone deals, we've also found the latest discounts from carriers.
Today’s best cell phone plan deals
As of August, 2020, Sprint no longer exists as a brand. Sprint and T-Mobile merged earlier this year.

Note that the availability of these plans will depend on your geographic location and in some areas prices may not include additional upfront costs such as one-time activation or setup fees:

Read more
The best MVNOs for 2023

Your smartphone is your lifeline, but despite its utility, service can be costly. If you feel like you're paying too much for your cellular service, consider using a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) instead of the more expensive major mobile vendors. MVNO carriers offer the best of both worlds with the same quality of coverage but at a lower price than the major carriers. That's because they use the same networks as the Big Three -- AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile -- while providing a hugely diverse product range. Best of all, these pay-as-you-go plans offer a chance to ditch the large bill while still getting the most from your mobile device.
The best MVNO carrier for unlimited data
Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile offers three major plans to fit your budget, backed by an expansive LTE network. In addition to providing nearly blanket nationwide coverage, Metro by T-Mobile offers additional perks on certain plans. Google One is included for customers on the $50 plan, and customers on the $60 monthly plan now get Google One and an Amazon Prime membership. An even cheaper, stripped-down plan that includes 5GB of high-speed data per line is now available for $30 per month. Metro customers also can access T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network. You can enable automatic bill pay for a $5-per-month savings and add a plan for your tablet, hotspot, or another connected device to your current service for $10 to $35 per month. Stateside international calling for $15 per month extra is available alongside a large selection of discounted phones.

Read more
T-Mobile is leaving AT&T and Verizon in the 5G dust
The T-Mobile logo on a smartphone.

Ookla has just published its latest market report revealing where U.S. mobile carriers and smartphone manufacturers stand in terms of providing the best 5G and 4G/LTE services.

Not surprisingly, T-Mobile remained in the top spot during the fourth quarter of 2022, eclipsing its rivals when it comes to median download speeds. What may be more surprising is that T-Mobile has increased its lead, clocking in at 151.37Mbps overall and 216.56Mbps for 5G, breaking the 200Mbps barrier for median 5G speeds across all bands for the first time.

Read more