Ookla®, renowned for its expertise in connectivity intelligence, has unveiled its latest analysis of the most significant internet service outages from January to September 2024. Based on data from Downdetector®, this report examines the scale and impact of disruptions in an increasingly interconnected digital world.
Downdetector by Ookla is the leading global platform for real-time status monitoring of online services. With over 25 million monthly user reports, it provides valuable insights into outage patterns, enabling companies to swiftly address critical issues.
Key Findings
- Social Media Disruptions: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp faced the most widespread outages, disrupting millions of users worldwide.
- ISP and Gaming Impacts: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and gaming platforms were heavily affected, highlighting the challenges of maintaining stability in a complex digital ecosystem.
- Global Reach of Outages: Significant disruptions were reported across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.
“Downdetector offers real-time insights into service interruptions, equipping businesses and users with the information they need to respond effectively,” stated Hamdy Farid, SVP of Product at Ookla. “Many major industries, from financial institutions to gaming companies, depend on Downdetector to identify and address connectivity issues swiftly.”
Notable Outages
- Facebook (March 5): This event stands out as 2024’s largest global outage, with over 11.1 million users reporting issues. Asia-Pacific experienced the most severe impact, alongside disruptions in Instagram and WhatsApp services.
- Crowdstrike (July 19): A software update gone wrong affected nearly five million users, disrupting emergency services, airlines, and ride-sharing platforms reliant on the service.
- Microsoft 365 (March 14): This outage, part of a global disruption, was the largest recorded in the Middle East and Africa region.
Regional Breakdown
- Asia-Pacific: Facebook and Instagram outages caused widespread issues, alongside local disruptions to PayPay and Jio.
- Europe: Telecom providers 1&1 and Deutsche Telekom faced significant outages, in addition to Facebook and WhatsApp disruptions.
- Latin America: Platforms like Facebook and local services such as Nubank experienced outages.
- Middle East and Africa: Microsoft 365 outages were dominant, along with telecom disruptions from Telkom, MTN, and Vodacom.
- North America: Crowdstrike, Facebook, and ISP disruptions were particularly impactful, alongside gaming service interruptions.
Hamdy Farid added, “In times of service disruption, early detection, problem isolation, and effective communication are crucial. Downdetector Explorer enables service providers to grasp the scope of issues and implement rapid solutions for consumers.”
This report underscores the growing reliance on seamless digital connectivity and the critical need for swift resolutions during disruptions.
