What would happen if the internet went down for a day?

Imagine wanting to check the news or order groceries with your morning coffee, only to find out the internet isn't working. You restart the router, but still nothing. Mobile data is also unavailable. Now what? The only option is to call someone or ring your neighbors to see if they have the same problem. When the internet goes down on a larger scale, Google will be of no use to you.

It's precisely in such a moment that the number of everyday activities dependent on internet connectivity would quickly become apparent. And it wouldn't just be about news, social media, or streaming. Within minutes, issues would begin to spill over into everyday services that at first glance don't seem related to the internet. So what would happen if the internet went down for a day?

Can the internet even be switched off?

The internet does not have a central switch to disconnect the entire world. It consists of an enormous number of independent networks, which are interconnected and relay data among each other via various pathways. Even if part of the infrastructure were to stop functioning, it would generally be possible to reroute traffic elsewhere.

However, it is possible to disconnect an entire country from the internet. A government, for example, can order operators to stop routing traffic abroad or to switch off mobile data. Such scenarios are not merely theoretical; extensive internet shutdowns have occurred in the past in countries like Egypt, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

Where would the outage hit us the hardest?

For services that are directly dependent on the public internet, issues would manifest almost immediately. Websites, internet messengers, online banking, e-shops, cloud applications, or video calls would cease to work. Which areas would suffer the most?

Online communication and remote work

Social networks and services like Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal, email, or video calls would be the first to disappear. However, if the regular mobile network remained functional, people could still connect over the phone and communicate via SMS. This is the fundamental difference between an internet outage and a complete telecommunication outage.

The impact would be much greater for companies reliant on remote work. Without the internet, VPNs, cloud documents, videoconferences, and access to company systems would stop functioning. Some tasks could of course be handled locally, but collaboration would be significantly limited due to the inaccessibility of shared data.

Payments and online banking

Online and mobile banking would cease to function practically instantly. One would not be able to access accounts via app or website, and typical online payment gateways would fail.

However, this does not mean banks would stop working completely or that funds would disappear from accounts. Banking infrastructure uses separate systems, so a public internet outage would not halt account management or all banking operations.

The situation would be more complicated for payment terminals. While some card payments might go offline under certain conditions, it's definitely not something to rely on universally. In some stores,p card payments would stop functioning, and cash would remain the safest option.

ATMs are not a hundred percent reliable either. Some banks use private communication lines, so the internet outage would not automatically render them inoperative. Others, however, might face difficulties in verifying transactions or communicating with banking systems.

Your success in withdrawing cash would therefore depend on the specific infrastructure and the extent of the outage. If you have no cash on hand and ATMs are down, visiting a physical bank branch would be your remaining option. Even there, it would depend on how well-prepared the branch is for such circumstances.

Stores and logistics

It's logical that e-shops would stop accepting new orders almost immediately. However, a physical store doesn't automatically equate to full functionality. Cash register systems, inventory management, pricing, or loyalty programs may be linked to external servers, so without the internet, some stores could be unable to provide all usual services.

Employees would lose access to current inventory levels, the order system, or product availability information. Everything usually resolved through online databases would suddenly need to be verified manually.

Logistics would function similarly. Shipments already in progress wouldn't stop, but features like tracking, data exchange between warehouses and carriers, or order status updates would become complicated or completely halted. Some companies might revert to manual record-keeping and dispatching, resulting in slower work and a higher risk of errors.

Healthcare and public services

Hospitals wouldn't stop providing acute care due to an internet outage. Doctors could continue to treat patients, and some internal systems would function locally. However, issues would arise with services dependent on external connectivity.

This would affect outpatient scheduling, result forwarding between facilities, access to certain external systems, or electronic communication between doctors, labs, and other medical facilities. Some administration would temporarily need to be handled manually, and some procedures would simply be postponed.

Public offices and other services would operate similarly. Online forms, electronic identities, or digital portals would be unavailable, but the institutions themselves would not vanish. Where physical counters and local systems exist, it would be possible to continue at least in a limited mode.

What would continue to function surprisingly well?

A whole day of internet outage would reveal how much we've gotten used to online services. However, many systems would continue to function, using their own communication networks or operating locally for a certain period without a connection to the public internet.

Public transportation

Buses, trams, and trains could continue running according to the schedule, but online schedule searches, information on current delays, mobile tickets, and some reservation systems would not work. Complications might also arise on the part of carriers, for example, in planning operations or information transfers.

The situation is similar for air transportation. Air traffic control uses specialized communication systems, so a public internet outage would not mean grounding all flights. Significant issues would more likely affect passenger check-in, reservations, information systems, and airlines' operational planning.

Electricity and water

Neither the electrical grid nor water supply is controlled by the public internet we use at home for web browsing. Thus, its outage wouldn't automatically cause a blackout or halt water supplies. Power companies and water authorities utilize their own control and communication systems, enabling basic operations to continue without standard internet connectivity.

However, the outage could affect remote monitoring, data exchange, or communication with external providers. The longer the outage lasts, the more it would complicate routine management and coordination of operations.

Emergency services

Firefighters, police, and emergency medical services have their own communication protocols and don't rely solely on the public internet. Emergency assistance wouldn’t stop functioning due to an internet outage.

However, work with services linked to online connection, such as access to some external databases or data transfer, could become complicated. A notable impact would occur if, in addition to the internet, the mobile network or electricity also went down. Then, the effect on the functioning of these services would be much greater.

One day without the internet wouldn't stop the world

A full-day outage wouldn't equate to a complete collapse. Electricity, water, transportation, or emergency services would mostly continue to operate, although with some complications. Much greater chaos could occur after reconnecting, needing to load undelivered data, handle pending transactions, sync systems, and resolve accumulated issues throughout the day.

One day without the internet would mainly remind us how many everyday things we now take for granted simply because we are constantly online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would GPS navigation work without the internet?

Yes, a phone can determine its position using satellites without internet connectivity. The problem would be accessing maps, searching for routes, and receiving real-time traffic information. However, pre-downloaded maps can still be used offline.

Could you listen to the radio or watch TV without the internet?

Classical radio and television broadcasts could continue as they are not dependent on the public internet. However, it would depend on the TV service type. Internet radios and streaming services would be inaccessible.

How to prepare for a longer internet outage?

For a typical household, it is useful to have important phone numbers stored, offline maps downloaded, and a small cash reserve prepared. You don't need to prepare for a catastrophe; the goal is mainly to ensure you don't lose access to vital information due to non-functioning apps.