Cell phone outages will be '100 times worse' when China invades Taiwan, Top Intel Republican Marco Rubio warns as FBI investigates where huge AT&T outage was a hack

The disastrous cell phone outage at AT&T was only a fraction of what 'will' happen in the U.S. when China invades Taiwan, one U.S. senator warned. 

Some 74,000 users across the AT&T network were unable to make calls on Thursday, with thousands more at other networks left without service according to DownDetector. Thousands more at other networks were left without service. 

'I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage,' said Sen. Marco Rubio, Fla., top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. 

'But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion. And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank,' he went on.

'I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage,' said Sen. Marco Rubio , Fla., top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. 'But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion'

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are currently investigating the outages as a potential cyberattack. Downed cellular connection left some without the ability to call 911 for emergencies. 

Fellow Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez echoed Rubio's sentiment.  He posted on X: 'Agreed, Senator @marcorubio! Communist #China will continue to work overtime to undermine America & the free world.'

China recognizes Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control.

While the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan, it is the island's main ally and supplier of military equipment - a thorn in ties between Washington and Beijing.

The US State Department authorized the sale of a $75 million advanced tactical data link system to Taiwan this week.

According to DownDetector, the number of outages reported climbed to over 70,000 just after 7AM on Thursday

Service disruptions have been reported across the country, with outages first occurring around 4am eastern time

Days ago FBI Director Christopher Wray warned China's ability to conduct cyber attacks has grown to a 'scale greater than we'd seen before.' 

While the Munich Security Conference was largely focused on wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, Wray warned politicians and intelligence officials not to lose sight of a subtler menace' Beijing's goals to plant malware inside the US's  critical infrastructure.

Wray cited Volt Typhoon, the moniker given to the Chinese hacking network that infiltrated the US last year, but said it's only the 'tip of the iceberg.'

Under 'Volt Typhoon' Beijing's military have burrowed into more than 20 major suppliers in the last year alone including a water utility in Hawaii, a major West Coast port and at least one oil and gas pipeline, analysts revealed weeks ago. 

They have bypassed elaborate cyber security systems by intercepting passwords and log-ins unguarded by junior employees, leaving China 'sitting on a stockpile of strategic' vulnerabilities.

'It is very clear that Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure are in part to pre-position themselves to be able to disrupt or destroy that critical infrastructure in the event of a conflict,' said Brandon Wales of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

US faces increasing concerns of cyber and satellite attacks from Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right

In August the hackers were spotted trying to penetrate systems run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that provide the state's power.

But Hawaii is thought to be the biggest target given the crucial role it would play for the US if conflict broke out over Taiwan.

In May, Microsoft uncovered Chinese attempts to infiltrate dozens of sectors in Guam, the closest US territory to Taiwan.

Communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education organizations were targeted by Volt Typhoon.

It also comes after last week House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner demanded President Biden declassify information related to an urgent national security threat, later revealed to relate to Russia's anti-satellite capabilities. 

Meanwhile on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin taunted the West with a joyride in a modernized supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber. 

The Biden administration is eyeing up more sanctions on Russia after the death of Putin dissident Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison. 

Since that happened last week, Russia has taken into custody an American ballerina and charged her with treason for donating $51 to a Ukrainian cause and the mysterious death of a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine and was living in Spain.