EE and BT Networks Hit by Major Outage, Disrupting Calls for Thousands
A significant outage affecting EE and BT networks has left thousands of customers unable to make or receive calls, including emergency 999 calls. According to Downdetector, over 2,500 EE customers reported issues at 14:00 BST, with many others experiencing disruptions on other networks due to connection problems with EE and BT.
The outage had a serious impact on the ability of customers to reach emergency services, with some reporting difficulties making 999 calls. The government confirmed that 999 services were later restored. A BT spokesperson issued an apology and stated that the company was actively working to address the issue.
Temporary Disruptions for Other Networks
While Vodafone and Three confirmed their networks were unaffected, other providers that rely on EE’s infrastructure, such as 1pMobile, reported similar disruptions. 1pMobile acknowledged the issue, citing some customers affected by the network problems and reassured users that EE engineers were addressing the situation.
Response from Emergency Services and Government
The outage also affected emergency services. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services initially reported problems with 999 calls, but by 15:01 BST, they confirmed that services had returned to normal. The Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology acknowledged the issue and confirmed that EE and BT’s digital voice calls to emergency services had been restored.
Customer Service Disruptions
As a result of the outage, EE and BT’s customer service phone lines were down, with many users unable to reach support. Customers seeking urgent help, including refunds, found it difficult to access assistance. Affected users were encouraged to report issues to their providers as soon as possible, with a promise of potential compensation if services were not restored within two days.
Regulatory Oversight and Investigation
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, stated it was in contact with BT to investigate the scale and cause of the outage. Ernest Doku, a mobiles expert at Uswitch, emphasized the importance of resilient networks, particularly for mobile and landline services that are vital for emergency situations.
BT Group’s Market Presence
BT Group, which owns EE, serves more than 30 million customers in the UK and generated £20.4 billion in revenue in the last financial year. The company is working to ensure the network is fully operational as quickly as possible.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvmvqrnq7go
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