AT&T says mass 911 outages across three states were caused by fiber cuts by third parties

AT&T on Thursday attributed mass 911 outages across parts of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama to fiber cuts made by third parties, according to the company. The disturbances began around 2 p.m. in Mississippi, with initial reports of service interruptions spreading to neighboring areas later in the afternoon. By 4:45 p.m., AT&T said service had been restored in all three states, and 911 calls in the affected zones were operating normally again.

AT&T also said the outages were not statewide, a claim that contradicted some local authorities reports of broader disruptions. The company described the cause as fiber cuts by third parties rather than a system-wide failure, noting that the disruptions appeared to be limited to certain regions within each state.

Emergency officials and residents in affected areas received confirmation that 911 service had returned to normal in the zones previously impacted, according to AT&T’s statement. The company apologized for the inconvenience and said it would review the incident to determine the precise locations and parties involved in the fiber cuts.

Officials did not provide further details on who caused the cuts or where exactly the fiber lines were severed, and no additional information was immediately available. The outage episode highlights the vulnerability of emergency communications networks that depend on fiber infrastructure and the importance of rapid restoration and clear public messaging during disruptions.