Users of the Giffgaff mobile network (which piggybacks on the O2 network) are reporting outages again today. Previous reports have been blamed on the networks unstoppable growth, although this time it seems a problem with hardware is to blame.
An electrical sub-station which feeds the Giffgaff network was reportedly damaged overnight and engineers have been deployed to remedy the issue. An official statement on the Giffgaff homepage read, “We have discovered the cause of this outage is due to a power outage at one of our suppliers. We do not have an ETA on a resolution, but this will hopefully resolved soon. They will need to restore power, and then the engineers (who are already on their way there) will reboot all the required systems.”
This hasn’t stopped users flocking to the site to report problems and even turning to Micro blogging site Twitter to try and find some answers. At this stage it’s unclear just how long the problem will persist and users are looking for answers.
Have you been affected by the outage, if so let us know here. Tell us when the problems started and where in the country you are. Heck, even tell us what you’re thinking, just keep it clean ;-).
Update : 20:19 on 16th March
We received the following email from Giffgaff.
You may have experienced loss of service today (Friday 16th March), we’re sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
This was due to a burst water pipe which took out the power at one of our 3rd party suppliers. Engineers have been working on this and have put a fix in place which we are now monitoring for stability. During the period where service is restored you may notice that your service is intermittent.
We’re continuing to work on this issue and regular updates will be provided in the community Noticeboard. Additional information is also available via our Blog where our CEO Mike Fairman has popped up a quick update.
Once we are sure that full and stable service has been restored for all members we will look at ways to make it up to you.
Again, sorry for the inconvenience.Regards,
The giffgaff team
I use Giffgaff sims in my iPhone 4S and iPad and they are both down. Showing signal but not working, I work in Bristol too – not a happy bunny.
Same here on my Galaxy Nexus….. and my mate's Iphone 3g. This sucks…. I need to tell a fucking mate i'm not coming into work today!!! arrrrgh!!!!!
as an elderly and disabled person I use my phone everyday needing it to keep in contact with family 24/7, this is not good enough, what if i was to fall and be unable to contact my key holders for help???
This is just bull i need a working sim for my nexus galaxy save a chicken my ass from manchester/bury
I have a giffgaff sim in my iphone 4. I can receive SMS messages but not send or make calls.
Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Get a grip everyone.. it's a mobile network.. they have issues.
Could of been a solar flare and the system out for a week!
That's a fair comment, networks do have issues. On the flip side people are allowed to voice their concerns too though.
There's a bunch of rumors going around. One says it was a flood from a burst water main and one says it was vandalism – who knows, the general feeling we're getting is 'fix it already'.
my husbands phone and mine are down 🙁 we feel lost!!!! i have been with giffgaff for a few months now and everything was brilliant but recently (the last month) i have noticed quite a few problems 🙁 come on giffgaff sort it out,……..dont let yourselves down!!! I cant be without my phone!!!!!!
Again, I'd agree. Giffgaff are a brilliant network on the whole, we use them in the office and have been really pleased with their service.
Its down in Birmingham also 🙁
Lost work today because of this. I have been a member of giffgaff for a few months and this is not the first time I have been unable to use my phone. I will be seeking compensation for loss of earnings as I am on call, or was!!
Surely they should have a backup for this eventuality at a different site, even a back up of that back up. I used to work for Vodafone and if this happened on their network all hell would break loose! Cracks starting to appear with this network, they've now proved that if something's too good to be true, that's beacause it probably is!
I live in Wales, I still get my 3G signal + access to the Internet but when I try to call or text it doesn't work! Thank god I'm not in any emergency right now.
Newcastle bloke here, my phone and the wife's showing as number unobtainable, can get texts but nothing else. Showing full O2 signal and 3g but think its just teasing me……this after the goodybag update issue, hmmmmmm not feeling so smug now with my cheap deal and unlimited internet……
Not being able to ring or txt out is annoying – but its loss of incoming calls that's killing me. There's just a dead tone if you ring my number, no message, no voicemail. I really think this outage could have very serious implications for Giffgaff – twitter is full of people leaving them atm…
There are alot of whiners here….. As Dozzer said – it's a mobile network, they have problems – and this is a small network, with small overheads – you have to understand that before joining. If those risks don't suit what you require from a mobile network, don't use it! Every other network out there has had and will have in the future the same types of issues. If you move from GG all you will do is experience the same problem again at some point down the line, and blame and move from yet another company…..
I think most of you need to harden up a little….. I'm a real geek when it comes to my mobile tech but I can handle it – but god what did you people do before mobile phones?!?
Not being able to ring or txt out in Barnsley…… 🙁
My sims in my iPhone and network is down… I can receive texts but cant send any or make any calls… My phone shows I have network :L Really annoying!!!
i'm in manchester and was on call from work iv'e lost a full days earnings because of this not happy one bit iv'e had nothing but hassel with giffgaf in the year iv'e been with them and the signal strength is diabolical
I have been with Vodafone and have experienced their network going down too. Then, there's a full week with my blackberry handset last year, so let's face it, none of the networks are perfect. Of course like all of you I am upset but is there a perfect newtork or handset out there?
I hope it will be fixed till tomorrow or 12 am
my phone has not been working from about 10.45 onwards 🙁
I did not realise all my outgoing texts had failed until just now, because I have been receiving texts as normal and therefore had no reason to suppose anything was amiss. Most upsetting. I shall be leaving GiffGaff when my current goody bag runs out. I need a reliable network!
Virgin go down regularly and there is not public outcry.
my phone will receive calls but not make them
My first day with GiffGaff, bad timing or a bad choice to move? Either way its not a good start!