The Verizon outage has left thousands without service across the United States.
Newsone Nigeria reports that a widespread Verizon wireless outage left more than 180,000 customers across parts of the United States without the ability to call, text, or access cellular data on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, causing major disruptions for people who rely on their phones for daily communication, navigation, and work.
The outage began around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, when Verizon’s wireless network abruptly stopped working. Customers across multiple states reported their phones switching into SOS mode, leaving them unable to make calls or send messages.
“It Wouldn’t Do Anything”
For many customers in Alabama, the outage quickly became frustrating.
“I was trying to call my son and my phone — it wouldn’t dial out. It wouldn’t do anything,” said Yolanda Thomas, a Verizon customer in West Alabama.
In the River Region, Gloria Means said the repeated disruptions could push customers away from the company.
“I mean, I like Verizon, but if they keep on doing this, they’ll make people go somewhere else,” Means said.
Outage Impacts Work and Income
For some, the outage was more than an inconvenience — it directly affected their livelihood.
Ernesto Lake, a truck driver passing through Alabama, said the loss of service left him stranded and unable to work.
