Verizon Explains LTE Outages Series of Unfortunate Software Glitches Verizon Wireless has been suffering a string of significant, nationwide LTE outages over the last year -- with three this month alone. In a statement the company explains that each outage has had a slightly different technical trigger -- though the largely empty statement fails to actually detail what those reasons were. While the language mirrors their underwhelming official statement, the company goes into significantly more detail in a conversation with Kevin Fitchard of GigaOM, noting that at least one outage was due to a software bug in Verizon's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS): Verizon fixed that software bug, but new IMS glitches have reared their heads – none as big as the April’s outage, but all taken seriously by Verizon nonetheless, Haberman said. The first outage on Dec. 7 was caused by the failure of a back-up communications database. The second, last week, was the result of an IMS element not responding properly, while Wednesday’s outage was caused by two IMS elements not communicating properly, Haberman said. According to Verizon, each outage has been the result of a new software bug rearing its head -- and it just happened to be a coincidence that three nasty bugs reared their heads in December alone. While some glitches are expected thanks to the speed that Verizon has deployed LTE (200 markets in one year), Verizon needs to tread carefully to protect a reputation for reliability they've cultivated in numerous consumer satisfaction studies (J.D. Power, ACSI, Consumer Reports).
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  coldmoonPremium
join:2002-02-04
Broadway, NC
 ·Windstream
| Hmm - buggy code eh? Makes one think about the late 90's and early 00's where many families of commercial spyware were easily identified through their propensity to bad code that lead inevitably to crashes in the system.
One has to wonder if the issue with Wednesday’s outage was caused by two IMS elements not communicating properly... might be due to problems getting the government's monitoring system up and running properly...
It would certainly be a solid reason why VZ has been silent and evasive as to the root cause of the outages.
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Returnil - 21st Century body armor for your PC | |
|  |  FrinkProfessorPremium
join:2000-07-13
Scotch Plains, NJ
 ·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | Re: Hmm - buggy code eh? Verizon disclosed a lot here! They're not disclosing more because it doesn't want to publicize what core elements or vendors might be more vulnerable than others. This serves to protect its customers in the end, and also serves to not reveal what vendors might be having more issues than others, to Verizon's competitors. Let T figure that out for itself, Verizon has done enough work for them getting to this stage...you need less tin foil in your hat!  | |
| | | coldmoonPremium
join:2002-02-04
Broadway, NC Reviews:
·Windstream
| Re: Hmm - buggy code eh? Well, I never discount the possibility of a good old fashioned false positive now and again, but the theory is there nonetheless; and with good reason that has precedent in its favor. Add to that the fact that we do not have a solid explanation of the technical facts, the chummy relationships with three letter agencies, and you might see where I am coming from.
If it is as you say, then there should be disclosure regarding vendor issues as that will help push for a quick resolution with lessons learned for the entire industry going forward. There is too much opacity in this and it only serves to nurture the conspiracy theories; which given our membership, will not be too far from getting discussed so let's have that discussion now rather than sprinkled throughout the entire topic...
JMHO
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Returnil - 21st Century body armor for your PC | |
| | | | FrinkProfessorPremium
join:2000-07-13
Scotch Plains, NJ Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Hmm - buggy code eh? I don't discount the theory, on the contrary if I didn't know a bit more about the situation, I might actually agree with you.
VZW has worked their asses off the past year getting this network together, and they don't want their hard work being wrapped up and bow tied for the next carrier to get the edge. I can't blame them... | |
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|  MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | said by coldmoon:Makes one think about the late 90's and early 00's where many families of commercial spyware were easily identified through their propensity to bad code that lead inevitably to crashes in the system.
One has to wonder if the issue with Wednesday’s outage was caused by two IMS elements not communicating properly... might be due to problems getting the government's monitoring system up and running properly...
It would certainly be a solid reason why VZ has been silent and evasive as to the root cause of the outages.
What prompted you to jump immediately to this conclusion? Do you have any proof or is it simply your opinion? | |
| | | coldmoonPremium
join:2002-02-04
Broadway, NC Reviews:
·Windstream
| Re: Hmm - buggy code eh? said by Matt:said by coldmoon:Makes one think about the late 90's and early 00's where many families of commercial spyware were easily identified through their propensity to bad code that lead inevitably to crashes in the system.
One has to wonder if the issue with Wednesday’s outage was caused by two IMS elements not communicating properly... might be due to problems getting the government's monitoring system up and running properly...
It would certainly be a solid reason why VZ has been silent and evasive as to the root cause of the outages.
What prompted you to jump immediately to this conclusion? Do you have any proof or is it simply your opinion? I expressed no opinion outside of the need for greater transparency; rather I speculated about a possible reason for the string of outages that have had little to no real feedback on the cause and the resolution.
If VZW and the rest of the industry want to stop this type of discussion then they need to come clean and provide real, factual information in a timely manner rather than hiding behind the tired excuse of competitive advantage (lost or gained). They simply have no credibility if all they do is reply with hollow explanations that say nothing...
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Returnil - 21st Century body armor for your PC | |
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| | Growing pains are to be expected... Considering this is a new technology (and even older more tested tech is subject to similar problems) there were bound to be issues with it. Still, I've heard nothing but good things regarding the speeds on LTE and the network so I'd say that Verizon is doing a good job, all things considered. | |
| | | | Re: Growing pains are to be expected... HAHAHA, If att had this many markets damn thing blow up lmao. If all we habe is few outage no biggie. | |
| | |  mfeenySweeper51Premium
join:2000-06-03
Detroit, MI | Re: Growing pains are to be expected... ?????? | |
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| | Verizon crappy CDMA migrating to LTE... Verizon business is CDMA, im just surprise why all of a sudden they implemented a GSM system - LTE. Now they're making a recipe of CDMA and GSM, doesnt make sense. This is what happen when they did an upgrade from 1xRTT to EVDO. History repeats itself. CDMA data is a damn, crap technology...
In my own opinion they should stop selling CDMA as it's full of crap. That's why they're having issue on 3G-4G handoff because again the crappy CDMA technology. | |
| |  RyanThaDudeIndiana's 1 Zero
join:2004-01-24
Walkerton, IN | Re: Verizon crappy CDMA migrating to LTE... Do you think he likes CDMA technology? | |
| | | | said by BringDwnCDMA :Verizon business is CDMA, im just surprise why all of a sudden they implemented a GSM system - LTE. Now they're making a recipe of CDMA and GSM, doesnt make sense. This is what happen when they did an upgrade from 1xRTT to EVDO. History repeats itself. CDMA data is a damn, crap technology...
In my own opinion they should stop selling CDMA as it's full of crap. That's why they're having issue on 3G-4G handoff because again the crappy CDMA technology.
This *crappy* CDMA still dominates this country and has the most coverage and sub's for a reason. The outdated EV network even outperformed AT&T's HSPA 7.2 network until 2010.
CDMA has been the most reliable network here as well, so its more like the crappy GSM IMS based tech is the problem. | |
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 NJxxxJonDSLR'er from the 56k days.Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000 | hmmmmm I still dont think LTE EXISTS....lol | |
| | | verizon verizon has terrible coverage anyways!! | |
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