Cyberattack Disrupts Cellcom Voice and Text Services in Wisconsin

A cyberattack has significantly disrupted Cellcom’s voice and texting services for customers across Wisconsin, beginning on May 14, 2025. The Green Bay-based telecommunications provider initially described the issue as a technical problem but later confirmed it as a “cyber incident” in a video and letter from CEO Brighid Riordan. The attack targeted a network segment handling voice and SMS, sparing sensitive customer data such as names, addresses, or financial details. Cellcom has engaged federal authorities including the FBI, as well as international cybersecurity experts, to mitigate the impact and restore full service.

Although Riordan expressed regret for the delay in communication, she emphasized the company’s preparedness and commitment to recovery, noting a “major milestone” in restoring partial service. Full restoration is expected by the end of the week. Cellcom has pledged to cover service fees during the outage, though specifics remain unclear. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has received at least 15 customer complaints related to the disruption. Customers have voiced frustration online, with some citing business losses due to the prolonged downtime.