Major Internet and Phone Outages Hit NEPA: Verizon, Xfinity Affected

URGENT UPDATE: An extensive outage affecting Verizon and Xfinity wireless and internet customers in Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) caused significant disruption on Friday night. Problems erupted just before 4 p.m. and persisted until approximately 8:30 p.m., impacting areas from the Back Mountain to the Wyoming Valley and parts of Lackawanna County.

Luzerne County 911 confirmed on Facebook that they were receiving reports of unreliable phone service throughout the county, particularly with Verizon and potentially other carriers. The outages are believed to be linked to severe weather conditions affecting the region.

In a statement to customers, Xfinity attributed the failures to “severe weather in or around your area,” underscoring the widespread nature of the issue. Local businesses faced immediate challenges, with many unable to process credit card transactions.

For example, CK’s Cantina & Grill in Dallas remained operational despite the outage, announcing on Facebook, “Our phones and internet are out but we’re still here and open for cash customers, so come see us!” This highlights the human impact of the outages, as local establishments adapted to continue serving their patrons despite technological failures.

Authorities are urging residents to stay updated as they work to resolve the issues. As this situation develops, residents are advised to check with their service providers for real-time updates on service restoration.

The impact of these outages is significant, not only affecting individual consumers but also local businesses that rely on stable internet and phone connections for operations. As the aftermath of the outage unfolds, residents and business owners alike are navigating the challenges presented by this unexpected disruption.

Stay tuned for further updates as officials continue to monitor the situation and provide more information on the restoration of services in NEPA.