Verizon Outages Sweep SoCal After Vandals Cut Fiber Cables

Verizon outages swept Southern California on Sunday, caused by vandals who cut multiple fiber cables, according to a company spokesperson.

The service interruptions were affecting some mobility and internet customers in the region, with repairs underway as of mid-afternoon and service expected to be restored by early evening, the spokesperson said in a prepared statement.

“Acts of network theft and vandalism represent a direct threat to the safety and security of our communities,” according to the spokesperson. “These are not simple property crimes; they are dangerous disruptions that cut off vital lifelines for our first responders and public safety officials who rely on constant connectivity.”

Outage tracking website Downdetector showed elevated reports of problems with Verizon on Sunday, with reports peaking in the late morning to early afternoon, when the number of problem reports hovered around 700. Downdetector showed that reports were mostly for mobile phone service, with some 5G and mobile internet reports as well.

For updates on local service, customers were advised to visit verizon.com/support/check-network-status/.