Yazılar

AT&T to Offer Bill Credits for Outages to Enhance Customer Satisfaction

/in /tarafından

AT&T announced a new initiative on Wednesday to offer bill credits for network outages as part of its efforts to improve customer satisfaction and restore trust in the company. This comes after the telecom industry experienced significant disruptions in 2024, including a nationwide wireless service outage in February, which lasted over 12 hours and affected millions of calls, including blocking 911 emergency services.

In response to the February outage, AT&T provided affected customers with a full day of service credit. The latest initiative, called the “AT&T Guarantee,” will automatically offer bill credits to customers who experience network interruptions. Fiber users who face outages of 20 minutes or more, and wireless customers who encounter disruptions lasting 60 minutes or longer, will receive a credit equivalent to one full day of service.

This move is part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to rebuild customer trust after a period of losing market share. Jenifer Robertson, executive vice president of AT&T Mass Markets & Mobility, emphasized that the company had been focused on regaining trust through improvements in pricing, products, and promotional offers.

The “AT&T Guarantee” initiative, which will launch Thursday, reflects the company’s commitment to offering reliable connectivity. AT&T has topped customer satisfaction rankings for business wireless service among large enterprises for three consecutive years, according to J.D. Power.

AT&T has invested more than $140 billion in its network and nearly a billion dollars in customer care and operations since 2019, aiming to further improve its service and customer experience.

 

US Responds to Chinese-Linked Cyber Attacks on Telecoms Firms

/in /tarafından

The United States has taken action in response to Chinese-linked cyber-espionage operations targeting U.S. telecom firms, as confirmed by U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday. Telecom giants AT&T and Verizon disclosed late last year that their networks had been breached by cyber attackers, although both companies have since secured their systems after collaborating with the U.S. government and law enforcement agencies.

Sullivan highlighted the U.S. government’s efforts to address the ongoing threat, mentioning specific cyber operations like “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon.” He emphasized that the U.S. has conveyed a clear message to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regarding the consequences of further actions that could jeopardize American critical infrastructure, underscoring that the U.S. is prepared to respond accordingly.

 

FBI Warns of Call Log Breach Following Hack of AT&T’s System

/in /tarafından

The FBI has warned its agents that a significant data breach of AT&T’s system last year likely resulted in hackers stealing months’ worth of call and text logs, potentially compromising the identities of confidential informants. This breach, which impacted all FBI devices using AT&T’s public safety network, included sensitive information such as mobile phone numbers and the numbers agents communicated with, according to reports from Bloomberg News.

The breach occurred in April 2022, when hackers downloaded data from around 109 million customer accounts, which included records of calls and texts. The stolen records, while not containing the content of the communications, could still expose sensitive connections between FBI agents and their informants. This raises serious concerns about the security of confidential sources, especially since the breach could link agents to their secret sources.

In a communication to FBI agents across the country, the agency warned that their activities on the AT&T network were likely among the stolen data, putting both agents and their sources at risk. An FBI spokesperson emphasized the agency’s duty to safeguard the identities and safety of its confidential informants, who often provide critical information at great personal risk.

AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers responded to the breach, stating that the company had worked closely with law enforcement to mitigate the impact on government operations following the incident. This breach is part of a broader concern about cyber-espionage targeting U.S. telecom networks. The U.S. government has responded to these threats, including recent steps to counter Chinese-linked cyber-espionage efforts against U.S. telecom companies.

While AT&T and other major telecom firms such as Verizon have confirmed their networks were targeted by cyber hackers, they also assured that their systems are now secure after cooperating with U.S. law enforcement and government agencies.