Verizon Wireless back online after nationwide data outage

Verizon Wireless said it had fully restored data service after a widespread disruption to its 4G and 3G networks. Reps for the carrier did not specify the extent or the exact nature of the outage, which is the second to hit Verizon in the space of a month. 

"Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is returning to normal this morning, after company engineers worked to resolve an issue with the 4G network during the early morning hours today," a Verizon rep told ZD Net in an emailed statement. "Throughout this time, 4G LTE customers were able to make voice calls and send and receive text messages. The 3G data network operated normally." 

According to the Washington Post, on December 7, Verizon experienced similar problems with its 4G network. As the number of smartphone users in the US soars network slowdowns or stoppages are becoming increasingly common. Earlier this year, Verizon introduced a "network optimization" plan to help manage the number of heavy data consumers. (Essentially, it limits the bandwidth for the top 5 percent of users.)

Meanwhile, in October, Sprint nixed unlimited data plans for tablets and netbooks, while keeping in place unlimited data plans for smartphones. Sprint remains the only carrier in the country to offer unlimited smartphone data – both AT&T and Verizon, for instance, currently cap or throttle 3G and 4G data usage for new customers on all their devices. 

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