Ookla Report Highlights Major Global Internet Outages in 2024

Ookla®, a global connectivity intelligence company, has released a report analyzing the largest internet outages of 2024, based on data from Downdetector®. The report highlights the significant challenges posed by service disruptions as global reliance on digital services continues to grow. Downdetector®, the world’s most popular platform for online service status, tracks over 25 million monthly user reports, providing real-time analysis and verification of outage incidents. This data helps internet service providers (ISPs), mobile operators, technology companies, banks, and others better understand the scale of service disruptions and respond swiftly.

The report shows that social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp experienced the most significant outages, impacting millions of users worldwide. Additionally, ISPs and gaming services were severely affected, underlining the complex nature of the internet ecosystem and the interconnectedness of network-dependent services. The report also reveals that key regions such as Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States experienced major disruptions, highlighting the global nature of connectivity challenges.

Facebook’s outage on March 5 was the largest, with over 11.1 million users reporting issues. The Asia-Pacific region was particularly affected, alongside widespread disruptions to Microsoft 365 and local services like PayPay and Jio. In Europe, outages in Facebook and WhatsApp services caused significant disruptions, along with interruptions to German telecom providers like 1&1 and Deutsche Telekom. Latin America also saw disruptions to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, along with local services such as Bait and Nubank.

The Middle East and Africa region was impacted by Microsoft 365 and Facebook outages, along with disruptions to telecom providers like Telkom, MTN, and Vodacom. In the United States and Canada, Facebook, CrowdStrike, and AT&T outages were the most notable, with a significant disruption caused by a routine software update from CrowdStrike on July 19, which affected nearly five million users, including emergency services, airlines, and ride-sharing apps.

Hamdy Farid, SVP of Product at Ookla, emphasized the importance of real-time outage monitoring. “Downdetector provides visibility into service disruptions, allowing businesses to stay informed and act quickly. Telecom operators and service providers rely on Downdetector to monitor outages and identify the root causes of connectivity issues,” he said. Farid also highlighted how early detection and communication are key to resolving incidents effectively and minimizing the impact on consumers.