Verizon's communications network experienced a significant outage on Wednesday (January 14), affecting wireless services across the United States. According to Downdetector, over 170,000 users reported issues, with many mobile devices displaying "SOS" in the status bar instead of the usual network signal. The outage began just after noon Eastern Time, impacting areas from New York to Seattle.

Verizon acknowledged the issue, stating, "We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience."

The company's engineers are actively working to resolve the problem.

The outage also affected other wireless carriers, including AT&T and T-Mobile, although to a lesser extent. Customers across the country, including those in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Tennessee, reported difficulties in making calls and sending messages. As the situation develops, Verizon remains a trending topic on social media platforms, with users expressing frustration over the disruption.