By Our staff reporter – As of 2023, the Ethiopian chat market is still relatively new and developing. However, it has the potential to grow rapidly as more and more people in Ethiopia gain access to smartphones and the internet.
Currently, the most popular chat app in Ethiopia is WhatsApp, which is widely used for personal and business communication. Other popular chat apps include Telegram and Facebook Messenger. These apps are used for messaging, voice and video calls, and sharing media such as photos and videos.
In addition to these mainstream chat apps, there are also a number of locally-developed chat apps that are gaining popularity in Ethiopia. For example, Zay Ride, a ride-hailing app, recently launched a chat feature that allows passengers to communicate with drivers directly within the app. There are also several local startups working on developing chat apps specifically for Ethiopian users.
One of the challenges facing the Ethiopian chat market is the relatively low internet penetration rate in the country. According to the World Bank, only around 15% of Ethiopians have access to the internet as of 2021. However, this is expected to change rapidly in the coming years as the government invests in expanding internet infrastructure and more affordable smartphones become available.
Overall, the Ethiopian chat market is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to grow rapidly as more Ethiopians gain access to the internet and become familiar with messaging apps. As such, it presents a promising opportunity for local and international companies to develop and market chat apps and related services in Ethiopia.