Bulk SMS to Ethiopia
Send bulk SMS online to Ethiopia from your browser or the API for $0.06584 per message, with a delivery report for every number, scheduling up to 60 days ahead and automatic refunds for texts that cannot be delivered.
Bulk SMS in Ethiopia
Who sends bulk SMS to Ethiopia?
Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, has Addis Ababa as its capital and is known for its agriculture and growing manufacturing sector. Businesses like banks, agricultural cooperatives, and logistics companies often send bulk SMS to their customers. These messages typically include payment confirmations, delivery updates, and market price alerts. Text messages are effective because they reach people on any phone, even in rural areas with limited internet access.
Banks
Banks in Addis Ababa send SMS alerts for account transactions and loan repayment reminders.
Agricultural cooperatives
Cooperatives in Oromia send farmers updates on crop prices and weather forecasts.
Logistics companies
Delivery firms in Dire Dawa notify customers about package tracking and arrival times.
Health clinics
Clinics in Amhara region send appointment reminders and vaccination schedules via SMS.
Sending to Ethiopia: numbers, alphabet and timing
Number format
How do Ethiopia mobile numbers look?
A typical mobile number in Ethiopia has 9 digits after the calling code +251. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 091 123 4567, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +251 91 123 4567. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
Alphabet
Which alphabet do messages to Ethiopia use?
Most people in Ethiopia read Amharic and other Ethiopian languages, and text in Ge'ez always travels as Unicode: 70 characters fit in one SMS and longer messages are split into parts of 67 characters. A 140-character text in Ge'ez costs two segments, while English or other plain Latin text to the same numbers fits 160 characters per SMS.
Time zone
What time do messages arrive in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia keeps UTC+3 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Addis Ababa is always 07:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
Costs
What does a bulk SMS campaign to Ethiopia cost?
Every segment to Ethiopia costs $0.06584. A longer message is charged per segment, and the composer shows the segment count as you write.
| Messages | 1 segment | 2 segments |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $6.58 | $13.17 |
| 1,000 | $65.84 | $131.68 |
| 5,000 | $329.20 | $658.40 |
| 10,000 | $658.40 | $1,316.80 |
| 50,000 | $3,292.00 | $6,584.00 |
Bulk SMS to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Questions
Bulk SMS to Ethiopia: questions and answers
How much does bulk SMS to Ethiopia cost?
Each SMS segment to Ethiopia costs $0.06584. 1,000 single-segment messages cost $65.84, 10,000 cost $658.40, and a $40 top-up covers about 607 messages. Messages that cannot be delivered are refunded to your balance.
How do I format Ethiopia phone numbers for a bulk SMS list?
A typical mobile number in Ethiopia has 9 digits after the calling code +251. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 091 123 4567, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +251 91 123 4567. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
How many characters fit in one SMS to Ethiopia?
Most people in Ethiopia read Amharic and other Ethiopian languages, and text in Ge'ez always travels as Unicode: 70 characters fit in one SMS and longer messages are split into parts of 67 characters. A 140-character text in Ge'ez costs two segments, while English or other plain Latin text to the same numbers fits 160 characters per SMS.
When should I schedule bulk SMS to Ethiopia?
Ethiopia keeps UTC+3 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Addis Ababa is always 07:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
What languages should I use for SMS in Ethiopia?
Use Amharic for broad reach, especially in urban areas, and English for business and international audiences. Some regions may also respond well to Oromo or Tigrinya.
Are there public holidays to avoid for SMS campaigns?
Plan around major holidays like Ethiopian New Year in September and Timkat in January, when people may be less responsive to messages.
Can one campaign include Ethiopia and other countries?
Yes. A campaign can mix numbers from any of the 227 destinations. The console reads each calling code, prices every number at its own country's rate and shows the cost per country before you send.
Start sending to Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of 227 destinations on one balance. Top up from $40 and send your first campaign today.
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