Key facts
- Bitchat allows nearby smartphones to communicate through Bluetooth Low Energy without requiring mobile data, Wi-Fi, or phone numbers.
- The app creates a mesh network where participating devices relay messages.
- Bitchat's rise coincided with discussions about restricting social media access during unrest and a major Orange network outage.
- The app has previously attracted attention during periods of political unrest and internet restrictions in Nepal, Madagascar, Iran, and Uganda.
A mobile network outage affecting Orange customers in France on October 21, 2026, has coincided with a surge in downloads for Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app Bitchat. The outage lasted from approximately 11:20 a.m. until 9 p.m., leading users to seek alternative communication methods. Bitchat, introduced in July 2025, allows smartphones to communicate via Bluetooth Low Energy without requiring mobile data or Wi-Fi, creating a mesh network for message relay. This functionality offers a practical alternative during service disruptions and periods of potential internet restrictions.