Network Outages: How to Stay Connected | AT&T Wireless
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Network outages:
Common causes and
how to stay connected
Info at a glance
- What is a network outage?
- How to stay connected during a cellular network outage
- Why do network outages occur?
- What is Wi-Fi Calling from AT&T?
- Is there currently an AT&T network outage?
- Reasons to enable Wi-Fi Calling
- Is it a network outage or an issue with my specific device?
- How do I set up Wi-Fi Calling
What is a network outage?
A mobile network outage is an unexpected disruption that impacts many cell sites at the same time. This can result in the loss of services such as voice calling, data transmission like email or internet access, and text messaging for mobile device users within the affected area. It's important to understand that a mobile network outage isn’t the same as having no coverage or a weak signal—which are different issues that can affect the quality of your service but aren’t classified as outages.
Why do network outages occur?
Mobile network outages could be due to a variety of factors, including technical glitches, server failures, infrastructure damage, or even cyber attacks.
Network outages can be local to one neighborhood, a small region, or even a small subset of users. This is called a partial outage, where only certain parts of the mobile network are impacted.
In rare events, network outages can be widespread across the United States. This is called a global network outage. During a global cellular network outage, cell phones and other devices that connect to the wireless network may have trouble connecting to their cellular provider’s network.
Another popular option to check for service outages across different wireless carriers is a website called Downdetector®. It tracks real-time reports from customers just like you to show any problem and outage monitoring for different services. You can use downdetector.com to check the status of services like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and many others to see if any outages were reported.
If you’re not seeing reports of AT&T service outages using the resources mentioned earlier, you’ll need to rule out that the issue isn’t limited to your specific device. Keep reading to learn how to rule out device-specific problems.
Is it a network outage or an issue with my specific device?
Network outages do happen. But most of the time there’s an issue with a specific device that you can resolve with a few troubleshooting steps.
If you can’t make or receive calls on your AT&T mobile phone, first try the following:
- Restart your device
- Make sure Airplane Mode is off
- Confirm the cell phone number you’re having issues with is active on your account by signing into your AT&T account
- Check the AT&T network coverage map to make sure you’re trying to use your device from within an area covered by AT&T
If you’ve completed the common troubleshooting steps we’ve outlined, and your device still has no signal, read the AT&T support article for common tips to troubleshoot your device. From that article, you can even sign in to your AT&T account to run real-time diagnostics on your specific device.
How can I stay connected during a cellular network outage?
Cellular network outages don’t occur frequently, but like with any service provider, things do happen, and it’s always best to have a backup. So, what can you do if there’s a network outage and you don’t have service? During a network outage we recommend you connect to Wi-Fi® for a data connection, and activate Wi-Fi Calling on your device for voice calls.
It’s always important to be prepared ahead of emergencies. Make sure you set up Wi-Fi Calling on your device before you actually need to use it and before any network outages occur. Turn on Wi-Fi Calling now to reduce losing network access in the event of a future network outage. Keep reading to learn more about Wi-Fi Calling.
What is Wi-Fi Calling from AT&T?
AT&T Wi-Fi Calling lets you make calls and send text messages over Wi-Fi when a cellular signal is limited or unavailable. It’s easy to use, doesn’t cost extra, and you can set it up right from your smartphone settings.
There are very interesting use cases where Wi-Fi Calling comes in handy. If you live or are traveling through rural areas, Wi-Fi Calling allows you to connect to Wi-Fi internet to send texts, emails, and make phone calls from your cell phone or tablet device. If you’re inside a hospital where mobile signals are often weak or unavailable, Wi-Fi Calling may save the day. Another interesting benefit of Wi-Fi Calling is that it may save your cell phone battery life because your cell phone won’t constantly search for a signal if you know that a cellular tower isn’t within reach.
Why it’s smart to enable Wi-Fi Calling as a backup on your cell phone
You don’t have to wait for a network outage to set up your Wi-Fi Calling. Do it ahead of time so that you’re prepared and have more options to contact your family and friends in case of emergencies. Wi-Fi Calling gives you better coverage in areas with weak or no cell signal by connecting to a stable Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi Calling is also a great plan B to have in place for when the mobile or landline networks are down.
Next, we’ll explain how to set up Wi-Fi Calling on your AT&T device.
How do I set up Wi-Fi Calling on my device?
Are there disadvantages to Wi-Fi Calling?
Wi-Fi Calling can be a fantastic option in case of a network outage, and even in many other situations where your wireless signal is limited or unavailable. But there are a few points to consider:
- Stable Wi-Fi connection required: If you switch to Wi-Fi Calling and don’t have a stable Wi-Fi connection, you may experience poor-quality or dropped calls. It’s also important to consider bandwidth capacity—or in other words, how many devices are currently using your Wi-Fi when you’re calling through Wi-Fi Calling. The more devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the more bandwidth they’ll take up. This, in turn, may reduce your call quality.
- Dead zones inside your home: If you have weak spots in your home where coverage is especially poor—like in a basement—consider investing in a Wi-Fi extender to boost the Wi-Fi signal inside your home. Learn more about Wi-Fi extenders and how they work
- Internet data caps: If your internet plan that powers your Wi-Fi has a data cap on it, frequent Wi-Fi Calling will eat into that data which might make you reach your data limit faster. If you’re looking for unlimited internet plans, explore AT&T’s fiber internet fiber plans.
Quick tips to remember in case of a network outage
Remember, network outages may occur with any carrier. You can quickly and easily check the status of a network outage. To stay prepared for any network outages, enable Wi-Fi Calling on your device by following the steps in AT&T’s support article. But remember, most of the time, if you’re experiencing signal loss, you can follow a number of easy troubleshooting steps to rule out any device-specific issues before contacting your carrier about a network outage. If you do need additional support with your AT&T service, please contact AT&T for support.
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