WASHINGTON, Jan 19, 2026, 04:58 (EST)
Visible customers said they are receiving a $5 credit after last week’s Verizon network outage, adding a smaller make-good to Verizon’s $20 offer as the company tries to tamp down customer anger. In a message to users, Visible said: “We are giving you a $5 credit towards your next month of service.” (PhoneArena)
The credits matter because wireless networks now sit under basic services — work calls, banking logins, delivery apps, and, in a pinch, emergency contact. In a mature U.S. market, where Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile chase slower growth, reliability is still the cleanest sales pitch.
It also lands at a moment when carriers are leaning harder on software-driven networks and newer 5G gear, where a bad change can ripple quickly. The longer the blackout, the more it invites scrutiny about resiliency and communication when systems go dark.
Verizon said late on Wednesday it had restored mobile phone service and planned to offer affected consumers credits after a 10-hour outage that disrupted calls, texting and internet use for hundreds of thousands of customers. The company did not disclose the scope or the cause of the disruption, but said it had no indication of a cyberattack. (ETTelecom.com)
Verizon described the disruption as a “software issue” and said it had launched a full review, after customers began flagging problems around noon Eastern time and the carrier declared, “As of 10:15 PM ET, the outage has been resolved.” Downdetector logged 1.5 million reports during the disruption, and some users said their phones showed “SOS” — a label on some iPhones that appears when the device cannot connect to its carrier network. Rivals AT&T and T-Mobile said their networks were working; T-Mobile’s CTO said its network was “operating as expected,” while AT&T posted, “Our network? Solid.” (Light Reading)
But Verizon has not said what in its software failed or how many customers will ultimately qualify for credits, making it hard to pin down the full cost — in dollars or defections. Verizon also warns customers about phishing and says suspicious text messages claiming to be from the company can be forwarded to 7726 (SPAM). (Verizon)
For Verizon, the timing is awkward. The carrier has been trying to limit churn — the industry term for customers leaving — and outages give rivals an easy opening to needle customers about switching.
Visible and Verizon customers can check their account apps for credits, and use Wi‑Fi calling where possible if service remains uneven in spots.
Verizon said it would share details directly with customers as its review continues.
