Focus Keyphrase: History of Telebirr Ethiopia
📝 Intro
The history of Telebirr marks Ethiopia’s bold entry into the mobile money space — with a government-led approach. Launched by state-owned Ethio Telecom in 2021, it aims to modernize payments in a country still heavily reliant on cash.
📲 What Is Telebirr?
Telebirr is a mobile money platform allowing users to:
- Send/receive money
- Pay bills
- Buy airtime
- Access micro-loans
It’s Ethiopia’s first large-scale digital wallet, designed to compete with private fintechs like M-PESA.
📈 Adoption and Growth
As of 2024:
- Over 30 million registered users
- Integration with banks and government services
- Used to pay for utility bills, fuel, and more
🛑 Challenges
- Still limited by internet access and smartphone penetration
- Competition from Safaricom’s M-PESA, which launched in Ethiopia in 2022
💡 Did You Know?
Telebirr processed over 600 million USD worth of transactions in its first 18 months — a record for any Ethiopian fintech.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Who owns Telebirr?
A: It’s operated by Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s state-run telco.
Q2: Can Telebirr be used for remittances?
A: Yes — it supports local transfers and is expanding to international remittance partners.