On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Bouygues Telecom faced significant disruptions across its network, affecting thousands of customers nationwide. The incident, described as a nationwide outage, occurred between 5 AM and 7 AM, leaving many users unable to make calls, send texts, or access the internet.
Reports came from various regions, including Ile-de-France, Poitou, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Alsace, Gironde, and Saône-et-Loire. Customers took to social media platforms, particularly X, to express their dissatisfaction and frustrations. Many shared their experiences during the outage, with one user lamenting, "Grosse panne chez Bouygues, plus de réseau mobile et fibre. C’est une catastrophe." Another expressed, "Bouygues franchement vous me faites mal commencer ma journée," reflecting the general sentiment among those affected by the service disruption.
According to Downdetector, the outage peaked at around 6:49 AM with 8,335 reports of issues concerning Bouygues Telecom's services. This surge highlighted the widespread nature of the problem, as users from different areas reported similar difficulties simultaneously. The incident also affected other telecom operators to a lesser extent, including SFR, Orange, and Free, indicating potential cascading effects within the telecommunications infrastructure.
Responding to the issue, Bouygues Telecom confirmed through their social media account prior to 8 AM on March 11, 2025, stating, "À la suite d’un incident technique entre 5h et 7h vous avez pu rencontrer des difficultés pour utiliser vos services. Nos équipes se sont mobilisées pour rétablir le réseau dans les meilleurs délais. Merci de votre compréhension. Nous vous prions de nous excuser pour la gêne occasionnée." The company assured its customers of their commitment to resolving the issue as quickly as possible.
Reports indicated improvements as the network gradually returned to normal levels after 7 AM. By around 7:30 AM, many users began to regain services, alleviating some of the morning's stresses. Bouygues stated their teams were fully mobilized throughout the incident and worked diligently to restore services.
While many customers expressed relief at the return of their services, the incident raised questions about the reliability of telecommunications networks, especially concerning how such outages can significantly impact daily life. Social media reactions showcased not just frustration but also concern over the reliability of their service providers.
Despite the challenges faced by Bouygues Telecom and its customers, the quick resolution indicates the operator's ability to respond efficiently to technical incidents. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong, reliable telecommunications infrastructure to support modern communication needs.
Overall, the nationwide outage on March 11, 2025, has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities within the telecom sector and the need for consistent service reliability. Customers and experts alike will likely be monitoring Bouygues Telecom’s progress on improvement measures to prevent future incidents.