WASHINGTON, Jan 19, 2026, 04:58 (EST)
Visible customers report getting a $5 credit following last week’s Verizon network outage, supplementing Verizon’s $20 compensation as the company attempts to ease customer frustration. Visible informed users, “We are giving you a $5 credit towards your next month of service.” 1
Credits are crucial since wireless networks have become essential for everyday tasks like work calls, banking, delivery apps, and even emergencies. In a saturated U.S. market dominated by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, where growth is slowing, reliability remains the strongest selling point.
This comes as carriers increasingly depend on software-driven networks and the latest 5G equipment, where a single glitch can spread fast. Extended outages only raise more questions about resilience and how well communications hold up when systems fail.
Verizon announced late Wednesday that mobile phone service had been restored following a 10-hour outage that interrupted calls, texting, and internet access for hundreds of thousands of users. The company plans to issue credits to those affected but did not reveal the cause or extent of the disruption. It also stated there was no evidence of a cyberattack. 2
Verizon called the disruption a “software issue” and announced a full review after customers started reporting problems around noon Eastern. The carrier later confirmed, “As of 10:15 PM ET, the outage has been resolved.” During the outage, Downdetector recorded 1.5 million reports, with some users noticing their phones displayed “SOS”—a warning on certain iPhones indicating no connection to the carrier network. Competitors AT&T and T-Mobile reported no issues; T-Mobile’s CTO confirmed its network was “operating as expected,” while AT&T tweeted, “Our network? Solid.” 3
Verizon hasn’t disclosed what exactly went wrong in its software or how many users might receive credits, leaving the total financial impact—and potential customer losses—unclear. The company also cautions users to watch out for phishing attempts, advising them to forward any suspicious texts claiming to be from Verizon to 7726 (SPAM). 4
Verizon finds itself at a tricky moment. The carrier has been working hard to reduce churn — industry jargon for customers jumping ship — but outages hand competitors a clear chance to poke at users about switching.
Customers of Visible and Verizon should check their account apps for any available credits and switch to Wi‑Fi calling when service is spotty.
Verizon stated it will provide updates directly to customers as the review progresses.
