The 2025 Global Network Outage Report and Internet Health Check by ThousandEyes, a Cisco company, provides a comprehensive analysis of the performance of ISPs, cloud service providers, and UCaaS providers. This report, regularly updated and tracked in collaboration with Network World, offers valuable insights into how these providers manage performance challenges and service delivery. It covers global network outages involving ISPs, cloud service provider networks, collaboration app networks, and edge networks such as DNS, content delivery networks, and security as a service. Each section of the report consolidates the occurrence of outages across a specified time frame, aiming to give a clear picture of the internet’s reliability and health.
January 27 – February 2 Summary
Overview of Outages
During the week of January 27 to February 2, ThousandEyes recorded 331 global network outage events across various network categories. This marked a 16% decrease from the previous week, which saw 395 outages. In the U.S. alone, there were 188 outages, slightly down by 4% from the previous week’s 195 outages. Globally, ISP outages saw a significant decrease, with 126 outages, representing a 37% drop from the prior week’s 199 outages. In the U.S., ISP outages saw a minor decrease of 3%, from 67 to 65.
Public cloud network outages globally increased slightly from 142 to 144, while in the U.S., these outages decreased from 110 to 88. Notably, there were no recorded outages in collaboration app networks both globally and in the U.S. This reduction in outages can be seen as a positive indicator of network stability, particularly in the ISP sector where the improvements were most pronounced. The slight increase in global cloud network outages contrasts sharply with the reduction in U.S. specific cloud outages, suggesting regional disparities in cloud network reliability.
Notable Outages
One of the significant outages during this period was the Arelion (formerly Telia Carrier) outage on January 29. This incident impacted numerous regions, including the U.S., Australia, and various countries across Europe, South America, and Asia. The outage lasted 24 minutes within a 55-minute span, initially observed around 12:40 PM EST and centered on nodes in Dallas, TX, and Ghent, Belgium. Subsequent outage conditions were observed in Atlanta, GA, involving more nodes and regions before clearance at 1:35 PM EST. The transient nature and widespread impact of this Arelion outage demonstrate how critical node failures in main hubs can propagate and affect extensive geographic areas.
Another notable outage was the Cogent Communications outage on February 2, which affected multiple regions, including the U.S., Poland, and Spain, for 22 minutes. It began around 3:10 AM EST, initially focusing on Washington, D.C. nodes, which later cleared, shifting the impact to nodes in Miami, FL, and subsequently Atlanta, GA. The outage was resolved around 3:55 AM EST. The sequential pattern of node impacts during this Cogent Communications outage illustrates the cascading effect that network disturbances can have, sometimes in concentric patterns radiating from key initial failure points.
January 20 – January 26 Summary
Overview of Outages
During the week of January 20 to January 26, 395 global network outage events were recorded, marking a 20% increase from the previous week’s 328 outages. The U.S. experienced 195 outages, a 24% increase from 157. Globally, ISP outages saw a slight increase from 186 to 199 outages, a 7% rise. In the U.S., outages rose by 26%, from 53 to 67. Public cloud network outages globally surged from 76 to 142, and in the U.S., they increased from 69 to 110. Collaboration app network outages globally recorded one outage, unchanged from the prior week, and zero outages in the U.S.
The noticeable uptick in outage events during this week signals ongoing volatility within cloud network infrastructures. The surge in global and U.S. public cloud network outages is particularly concerning, as it underscores potential vulnerabilities that could affect an array of services reliant on cloud platforms. Despite the increase in outage events, the relative steadiness in collaboration app network outages suggests that service reliability in this category remains robust, likely due to the critical nature of these platforms for business continuity and remote cooperation.
Notable Outages
One of the significant outages during this period was the Lumen outage on January 24, which lasted 37 minutes and affected multiple regions, including the U.S., Italy, Canada, and several European countries. It started around 1:20 AM EST, centered on New York, NY nodes. The multi-regional impact of the Lumen outage underscores the interconnectedness of global network infrastructures. Node failures in major internet backbone providers like Lumen can have far-reaching effects, disrupting connectivity for end-users across distant locations.
Another notable outage was the AT&T outage on January 23, which lasted 13 minutes and impacted U.S.-based customers and partners. It began at 10:35 AM EST in Dallas, TX. The brief duration of the AT&T outage highlights the swift response and mitigation efforts required to minimize service disruption. However, even short-lived outages at prominent service providers can pose significant challenges, disrupting user activities, enterprises, and various industry operations dependent on stable connectivity.
January 13 – January 19 Summary
Overview of Outages
During the week of January 13 to January 19, 328 global network outage events were recorded, showing an 11% increase from the previous week’s 296. The U.S. registered 157 outages, a significant 34% increase from 117. Globally, ISP outages saw a slight increase from 182 to 186 outages. In the U.S., the number rose from 40 to 53. Public cloud network outages increased globally from 72 to 76, and in the U.S., from 54 to 69. Collaboration app network outages decreased both globally and in the U.S. from two to one.
The uptick in outage events, particularly in ISP-related categories, suggests variable stability across providers and regions. The increase in U.S. ISP outages is notable for its contrast with the generally steady global figures, pointing to potential domestic issues or challenges that may be unique to the U.S. network landscape. Public cloud network outages depict a worrying trend of instability, albeit incremental, requiring attention from service providers to address and mitigate root causes effectively.
Notable Outages
One of the significant outages during this period was the Lumen outage on January 15, notable for its extensive impact across regions. This outage lasted one hour and five minutes over a span of nearly three hours, significantly affecting regions including the U.S., Hong Kong, and various other countries. The extended nature and reach of this outage highlight the potential for sustained disruptions originating from single provider issues. Lumen’s extensive network and reach demonstrate how critical backbone infrastructures are to maintaining global internet stability and how failures can reverberate across continents.
Another notable outage was the Hurricane Electric outage on January 16, lasting 22 minutes and impacting regions including the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, and several other countries. This outage was initially observed around 2:28 AM EST and underscores the global ripple effects that can result from disruptions in key internet service providers. Given Hurricane Electric’s role in connecting various networks and offering essential services, the relatively brief yet impactful outage highlights the delicate balance required to maintain continuous operation.
Conclusion
The 2025 Global Network Outage Report and Internet Health Check by ThousandEyes, a Cisco company, provides a thorough analysis of how ISPs, cloud service providers, and UCaaS providers are performing. This report is regularly updated and monitored in collaboration with Network World, offering valuable insights for understanding how these providers address performance challenges and complete their service delivery goals. The report covers global network outages encompassing ISPs, cloud service provider networks, collaboration app networks, and edge networks, such as DNS, content delivery networks, and security as a service systems.
Each section of the report compiles the number and nature of outages that occurred within a specific timeframe, aiming to offer a clear perspective on the internet’s overall reliability and health. By examining the patterns and common issues leading to outages, the report aims to highlight the robustness and areas of improvement for these critical digital infrastructures. This detailed overview helps stakeholders better understand the evolving landscape of global network performance and internet health, ensuring they are prepared for current challenges and future advancements in technology.
