France's second-largest telecom provider faces widespread mobile network outage, company says investigating the issue
Representative Image
France
's second-largest telecom provider, SFR, is currently facing a widespread mobile network outage. The downtime has made accessing texts, calls, and mobile internet impossible for thousands of users across the country. The company has confirmed that it is aware about the outage and is currently investigating the issue. The outage is also affecting broadband contract holders with SFR, preventing internet use in their homes. Reports of the disruption began arriving around 11:00 AM local time (2.30 PM IST), with hundreds of users quickly reporting the network as down. At its peak, around 4:53 PM IST, outage tracking website Downdetector recorded over 10,000 reports of the
SFR
network being down from across France. However, normal service is expected to be resumed later this evening, June 16.
What SFR said about the widespread mobile network outage
Replying to a post on social media platform X (earlier Twitter), SFR wrote (translated from French):
'We would like to inform you that a technical incident is currently impacting our network. Our technical teams are fully mobilized to restore the situation. We apologize for any inconvenience.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind.
Philips Garment Steamers
Book Now
Undo
As per Downdetector, the outage hasn't been resolved for all SFR users. Report of the same has reduced but are still affecting nearly 2,000 users at the time of writing.
This is not the first time French residents are facing widespread mobile network outage. In November 2024, users of the 'Free' network experienced an outage that, in some cases, lasted for several hours.
Recently, in April, a massive blackout swept across Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France disrupting life for nearly 50 million people throughout Europe. The outage brought subway systems to a standstill, cut off phone services, disabled traffic lights, and rendered ATMs inoperable. The outage also forced the suspension of Madrid Open matches.
Public transport systems, airports, traffic lights, and phone services across major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and parts of southern France were affected.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Blockchain: Telangana govt eyeing scalable adoption of emerging tech, mulls remote voting
Hyderabad: Telangana is deepening its commitment to blockchain innovation with a focus on real-world use cases, regulatory clarity, and public-interest applications. As Indian Web3 startups continue to migrate abroad due to regulatory uncertainties, the state govt is positioning itself as a model for responsible and scalable adoption of emerging technologies. Speaking at IBT25 India Blockchain Tour Hyderabad node, Jayesh Ranjan, special chief secretary for Special Project (SPEED) and Investment Cell, outlined a series of ongoing initiatives and upcoming pilots designed to embed blockchain into sectors like finance, agriculture, governance, and infrastructure. One of the earliest successes is T-Chits, a blockchain-backed platform for regulating chit funds. 'It is no longer a pilot. It's scaled and in public use,' Ranjan said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Telangana is not just experimenting with blockchain in finance. Traceability systems for seeds have been introduced to help farmers avoid spurious products. Vehicle registrations are now recorded on a blockchain ledger to ensure the Road Transport Authority doesn't lose revenue during resales or unreported transfers, Ranjan explained. However, the use case that the govt is most excited about isn't yet public-facing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo It's remote voting. 'We've tested a system where citizens can vote from home, using AI-based facial recognition and blockchain security,' Ranjan said. 'Voting in India is full of distrust. Even EVMs are questioned, despite being tamper-proof. But this pilot showed that remote voting can be done without even one percent doubt. It might take time to launch this on a full scale because the idea needs some time to settle in.' Land, for instance, is high on Telangana's list. With ownership disputes, fraud, and unclear transactions bogging down the real estate market, the state sees blockchain-backed land records as a gamechanger. The next cohort of the Web3 sandbox will focus entirely on asset tokenization, including land, intellectual property, and climate-linked assets, added Ranjan. Sukriti Govil, consultant with the govt's emerging technologies wing, spoke about the risks that come with AI. 'We've been careful to avoid use cases involving financial transactions because of regulatory constraints. But we're actively working on frameworks around asset organisation, especially in sectors that need policy clarity and licensing structures. Legacy laws can't address the risks that come with tokenization and AI. We need new digital asset laws that allows us to differentiate between types of tokens, whether they represent data, utility, or securities,' she explained. 'In parallel, Telangana is building TGDeX, Telangana Digital Exchange, which will be launched on Wednesday. It will be started with AI use cases, but the plan is to expand it to blockchain-based applications, particularly secure data exchange. Pilot experiments using blockchain under TGDeX are expected to begin next year,' added Govil. Ranjan announced that they are setting up an accelerator for experiential tourism. It will use technologies like blockchain to preserve and authenticate Telangana's heritage, from the Kakatiya to the Qutub Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, and enable immersive, verified cultural experiences for tourists.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
IIIT-A to build two hostels with advanced amenities, green standards
Prayagraj: The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Allahabad is preparing to construct two new state-of-the-art hostels to accommodate 1,500 students. Estimated to be constructed at a cost of around Rs 500 crore, these hostels are expected to be completed within the next three years. One of the hostels will house 1,000 boys while the other will be home to 500 girls. Both buildings are planned to be exemplary models of technology, safety and environmental sustainability. According to state officer at IIIT-A, Akhilesh Tiwari, the new hostels will have elevators and ramps designed to be accessible to differently abled students. The elevators will be specially constructed to allow stretchers to be transported in case of emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents. The proposal has been approved by the Building and Works Committee (BWC) and is expected to receive final approval from the Board of Governors (BOG) later this year. A major highlight of the project is its commitment to green building standards. The hostels will incorporate energy-saving technologies, natural lighting, ventilation systems and water conservation methods, making them environmentally friendly and sustainable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The design also emphasises disaster resilience, with earthquake-resistant construction to safeguard students in case of emergencies. In addition, the hostels will include modern parking facilities to ensure smooth vehicular movement within the campus while optimising space usage. With a timeline of three years for completion, these hostels are poised to meet the future needs of the growing student population and provide a safe, eco-friendly, and technologically advanced living environment for students at IIIT-A.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
How there has been a shift in companies that use H-1B visas in the US, they are no longer technology companies
Representative Image Silicon Valley's drive for innovation has long relied on the H-1B visa program to attract top-tier global talent in science and engineering. However, new data obtained by Bloomberg News reveals that a wider range of industries, including banks and telecommunications companies, are among the largest users of the programme -- often through staffing and outsourcing companies that secure nearly half of the 85,000 new H-1B visas issued annually. These companies, acting as visa middlemen, are reshaping the programme's purpose, raising questions about its impact on wages and U.S. workers. According to Bloomberg's analysis, covering new H-1B hires from May 2020 to May 2024, Citigroup Inc. added 3,000 H-1B workers, outpacing tech giants like Nvidia, Oracle, and Qualcomm. However, unlike the high-skill researchers and engineers typically associated with tech companies, about two-thirds of Citi's H-1B workers were IT contractors sourced through staffing and outsourcing agencies. These workers, often reportedly paid significantly less than direct hires, highlight a growing trend where non-tech companies leverage the visa program for lower-cost labor. 'This is the tip of the iceberg,' said Susan Houseman, a senior economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, in an interview with Bloomberg. 'While there's been a national debate about the U.S. reliance on imported goods, not enough attention has been paid to the offshoring of service jobs -- not because it doesn't happen or isn't important, but because we don't have good data on it.' Lottery fraud in H-1B visas by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sharp Design, Smoother Drives. Toyota Glanza Learn More Undo The H-1B visa, established by Congress in 1990 to bolster U.S. competitiveness in emerging tech industries, has become oversubscribed, leading to annual lotteries for the limited visas available. Staffing and outsourcing firms, functioning as visa middlemen, have exploited this system. These firms provide corporations with lower-level IT workers or facilitate the offshoring of back-office functions. Bloomberg's data, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, identifies major U.S. companies like Capital One Financial Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc., and Walmart Inc. as heavy users of these visa middlemen. Until recently, some middlemen manipulated the visa lottery through a practice known as 'multiple registration,' where they submitted numerous applications for the same worker to increase their odds. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) labeled this practice fraudulent in a 2023 report and implemented rule changes last year to curb it. Bloomberg's investigation also identified 13 staffing firms flagged by USCIS for such tactics, with at least six supplying workers to Capital One. Over half of Capital One's 905 H-1B contract workers during the four-year period were linked to multiple registrations, the highest proportion among the top 10 companies analyzed. Capital One relied on 429 staffing firms, 361 of which used multiple registrations. In response, a Capital One spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company was unaware of any government accusations of visa fraud by its vendors but would 'take appropriate action' if such issues arose. Verizon and Capital One emphasized that they require suppliers to comply with applicable laws, while AT&T, Walmart, and USAA declined to comment. What the shift in H-1B visas mean for salaries The data also reveals significant pay disparities. H-1B contractors are often paid far less than direct hires, even for similar roles. Bloomberg's analysis of the top 10 end-clients shows that among nearly 5,300 H-1B 'software developers' hired from 2020 to 2024, over 75% were contractors, earning roughly $48,000 less on average than direct hires, even when controlling for education and age. One in three contractors received the minimum salary required by the Department of Labor. Steve Hall, Chief AI Officer at Information Services Group Inc., told Bloomberg that part of the pay gap reflects contractors performing less technical roles, such as liaising between U.S. clients and offshore teams. However, critics argue that the reliance on visa middlemen distorts the H-1B program's original intent. Labor advocates contend that it undercuts U.S. workers, creates a vulnerable workforce with fewer protections, and tilts the labor market in favor of employers. The lack of comprehensive data on pre-existing H-1B contractors and offshored jobs complicates efforts to assess the program's full impact. As Houseman noted, the offshoring of service jobs remains understudied, yet its implications for the U.S. labor market are significant. With companies across industries increasingly turning to visa middlemen, the H-1B program's role in shaping the workforce continues to spark debate. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
