Cellcom, a regional wireless provider serving Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has been facing a serious service disruption since May 14, 2025. The outage, caused by a confirmed cyber incident, has left thousands of customers unable to make or receive calls and texts, forcing many to look for alternative phone service providers.
Widespread Service Disruptions Impact Customers and Businesses
Cellcom reported that its voice and SMS services have been significantly affected by the cyberattack. While the company’s data services and emergency 911 functions remained operational, the inability for many customers to connect calls—especially from outside networks—has caused widespread frustration.
This outage has had a substantial impact on daily communications for both personal and business customers. Important calls and appointments were missed, and some local governments and businesses have struggled to maintain reliable communication during the outage. Such disruptions highlight the critical dependence on wireless service providers and the consequences when systems are compromised.
Surge in Customers Switching Providers
As the outage dragged on, customers began seeking new phone providers. Boost Mobile, a national wireless carrier, reported a notable increase in new customer sign-ups, particularly in areas affected by the outage like Green Bay. Many who tried to switch were unable to port their existing Cellcom phone numbers due to ongoing technical difficulties, leading some to adopt temporary phone numbers.
Others expressed intent to make permanent changes once their original numbers could be transferred. This customer migration underscores the severity of the outage and the importance of dependable communication services in today’s connected world.
Company Response and Cybersecurity Measures
Cellcom’s CEO, Brighid Riordan, assured customers that the cyber incident was isolated to a segment of the network that does not store sensitive customer data. She emphasized that no personal information was compromised. The company has engaged cybersecurity experts to investigate and mitigate the attack and has notified the FBI as well as Wisconsin state officials to assist with the response.
Despite these efforts, full restoration of voice and SMS services remained incomplete as of May 23, 2025, with no clear timeline for when normal operations would resume. The company has provided periodic updates but cautioned customers to be patient as technicians work to fully resolve the issue.
Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness
Experts in cybersecurity and telecommunications stress the importance of having redundant and resilient systems in place to prevent or quickly recover from such incidents. This event serves as a reminder for companies and governments alike to invest in stronger cybersecurity infrastructure and contingency planning.
Local authorities and businesses affected by the outage are now reviewing their emergency communication protocols to better withstand future disruptions. Meanwhile, customers are encouraged to monitor Cellcom’s official service status page for the latest updates and to reach out to customer support for assistance during this challenging period.
Official Sources and Further Information
For continuous updates on the situation, Cellcom customers can visit the company’s official service announcement page at Cellcom Service Updates. Additional reporting and context can be found at Fox 11 News Green Bay.
