How should a technician respond to a network outage affecting multiple customers?

When responding to a network outage affecting multiple customers, the most appropriate action is to escalate the issue to network operations. This approach ensures a structured response to what is likely a significant problem rather than handling it in isolation. By escalating the issue, the technician enables specialized teams to assess the situation, identify the root cause, and implement a solution. This is crucial in minimizing downtime for customers and providing timely updates through proper channels.

The other options do not contribute effectively to resolving the outage. Ignoring the issue can lead to extended service disruptions and customer dissatisfaction. Performing troubleshooting without prior checks might waste time and resources if the problem is systemic rather than local. Finally, contacting each affected customer individually would be impractical and could result in inconsistent information being conveyed, further complicating the resolution process. Escalation allows for a coordinated effort to restore service more efficiently.