diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index 2fa90b1..bae52b1 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import * as TelegramApi from "./lib/telegram-api.ts";
 import * as TextGroups from "./lib/text-groups.ts";
 import * as ThreadReconciler from "./lib/thread-reconciler.ts";
 import * as TimeInjection from "./lib/time-injection.ts";
+import * as Traffic from "./lib/traffic.ts";
 import * as Updates from "./lib/updates.ts";
 import * as Voice from "./lib/voice.ts";
 
@@ -274,11 +275,13 @@ export default function (pi: Pi.ExtensionAPI) {
       getFollowerThreadName: telegramBusFollowerRegistrationState.getThreadName,
       getCurrentIdentity: getCurrentInstanceThreadIdentity,
     });
+  const trafficCounters = Traffic.createTelegramTrafficCounters();
   const statusRuntime = Status.createTelegramBridgeStatusRuntime<
     Pi.ExtensionContext,
     Queue.TelegramQueueItem<Pi.ExtensionContext>
   >({
     getConfig: configStore.get,
+    getTraffic: trafficCounters.snapshot,
     getActiveProfileName: configStore.getActiveProfileName,
     getDiagnosticPaths: Paths.getTelegramDiagnosticsDisplayPaths,
     isPollingActive: Polling.createTelegramPollingActivityReader(
@@ -323,6 +326,12 @@ export default function (pi: Pi.ExtensionAPI) {
     getCwd: Pi.getExtensionContextCwd,
     recordRuntimeEvent,
   });
+  const trafficBridge = Traffic.createTelegramTrafficStatusBridge({
+    counters: trafficCounters,
+    getContext: telegramSessionContextStore.get,
+    updateStatus,
+    recordRuntimeEvent,
+  });
 
   // --- Telegram API ---
 
@@ -330,6 +339,7 @@ export default function (pi: Pi.ExtensionAPI) {
     TelegramApi.createDefaultTelegramBridgeApiRuntime({
       getBotToken: configStore.getBotToken,
       recordRuntimeEvent,
+      onCallSucceeded: trafficBridge.onCallSucceeded,
     });
   const telegramBusFollowerClients =
     BusFollower.createTelegramBusFollowerClientRuntime<
@@ -645,6 +655,7 @@ export default function (pi: Pi.ExtensionAPI) {
   const inboundRouteRuntime = Routing.createTelegramInboundRouteRuntime({
     configStore,
     callApi: callTelegramApi,
+    onAuthorizedMessage: trafficBridge.onAuthorizedMessage,
     getCurrentInstanceId() {
       return telegramInstanceId;
     },
diff --git a/lib/routing.ts b/lib/routing.ts
index f106660..35e2c95 100644
--- a/lib/routing.ts
+++ b/lib/routing.ts
@@ -554,6 +554,8 @@ export interface TelegramInboundRouteRuntimeDeps<
     method: string,
     body: Record<string, unknown>,
   ) => Promise<TResponse>;
+  /** Called for every message from the paired owner, before it is dispatched. */
+  onAuthorizedMessage?: (ctx: TContext) => void;
   getCurrentInstanceId?: () => string | undefined;
   getMessageOwnership?: Updates.TelegramMessageOwnershipLookup;
   getTargetOwnership?: Updates.TelegramTargetOwnershipLookup;
@@ -2086,6 +2088,7 @@ export function createTelegramInboundRouteRuntime<
     handleAuthorizedTelegramCallbackQuery: callbackHandler,
     sendTextReply: deps.sendTextReply,
     handleAuthorizedTelegramMessage: async (message, ctx) => {
+      deps.onAuthorizedMessage?.(ctx);
       if (typeof message.message_thread_id === "number") {
         await deps.handleTelegramThreadTargetObserved?.(
           {
diff --git a/lib/status.ts b/lib/status.ts
index 9c3321a..c0f44ea 100644
--- a/lib/status.ts
+++ b/lib/status.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@
  * Builds usage, cost, and context summaries for the interactive Telegram status view
  */
 
+/** Message counters the status shows; structurally satisfied by the traffic domain. */
+export interface TelegramStatusTraffic {
+  received: number;
+  sent: number;
+  lastAtMs?: number;
+}
+
 export type TelegramStatusQueueLane = "control" | "priority" | "default";
 
 export interface TelegramUsageStats {
@@ -191,6 +198,7 @@ export interface TelegramBridgeStatusLineState {
   instanceSlot?: string;
   instanceThreadName?: string;
   lockState?: string;
+  traffic?: TelegramStatusTraffic;
   pollingActive: boolean;
   lastUpdateId?: number;
   activeSourceMessageIds?: number[];
@@ -215,12 +223,28 @@ export interface TelegramStatusBarTheme {
     token: "accent" | "error" | "muted" | "warning" | "success",
     text: string,
   ) => string;
+  /**
+   * omp symbol presets (unicode, nerd font, ascii) so the status follows the
+   * user's glyph set. Hosts that do not expose them get the unicode fallbacks.
+   */
+  status?: {
+    enabled?: string;
+    shadowed?: string;
+    running?: string;
+    warning?: string;
+    error?: string;
+    disabled?: string;
+  };
+  sep?: { dot?: string };
+  icon?: { input?: string; output?: string; time?: string };
 }
 
 export interface TelegramStatusBarState {
   hasBotToken: boolean;
   pollingActive: boolean;
   paired: boolean;
+  botUsername?: string;
+  traffic?: TelegramStatusTraffic;
   busRole?: TelegramBridgeBusRole;
   busLifecyclePhase?: TelegramBridgeBusLifecyclePhase;
   instanceSlot?: string;
@@ -298,6 +322,7 @@ export interface TelegramBridgeStatusRuntimeDeps<
   getInstanceSlot?: () => string | undefined;
   getInstanceThreadName?: () => string | undefined;
   getNowMs?: () => number;
+  getTraffic?: () => TelegramStatusTraffic;
 }
 
 export interface TelegramBridgeStatusLineOptions {
@@ -599,6 +624,8 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeStatusRuntime<
         hasBotToken: !!config.botToken,
         pollingActive: deps.isPollingActive(),
         paired: !!config.allowedUserId,
+        botUsername: config.botUsername,
+        traffic: deps.getTraffic?.(),
         busRole: deps.getBusRole?.(),
         busLifecyclePhase: deps.getBusLifecyclePhase?.(),
         instanceSlot: deps.getInstanceSlot?.(),
@@ -639,6 +666,7 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeStatusRuntime<
         instanceSlot: deps.getInstanceSlot?.(),
         instanceThreadName: deps.getInstanceThreadName?.(),
         lockState: deps.getRuntimeLockState?.(),
+        traffic: deps.getTraffic?.(),
         pollingActive: deps.isPollingActive(),
         lastUpdateId: config.lastUpdateId,
         activeSourceMessageIds: deps.getActiveSourceMessageIds(),
@@ -761,38 +789,116 @@ function getTelegramStatusBarLabel(state: TelegramStatusBarState): string {
   return threadName;
 }
 
+interface TelegramStatusBarGlyphs {
+  enabled: string;
+  shadowed: string;
+  running: string;
+  warning: string;
+  error: string;
+  disabled: string;
+  dot: string;
+  input: string;
+  output: string;
+  time: string;
+}
+
+function resolveTelegramStatusBarGlyphs(
+  theme: TelegramStatusBarTheme,
+): TelegramStatusBarGlyphs {
+  return {
+    enabled: theme.status?.enabled ?? "●",
+    shadowed: theme.status?.shadowed ?? "○",
+    running: theme.status?.running ?? "⟳",
+    warning: theme.status?.warning ?? "⚠",
+    error: theme.status?.error ?? "✘",
+    disabled: theme.status?.disabled ?? "⦸",
+    dot: theme.sep?.dot ?? " · ",
+    input: theme.icon?.input ?? "↓",
+    output: theme.icon?.output ?? "↑",
+    time: theme.icon?.time ?? "⏱",
+  };
+}
+
+function formatTelegramStatusBarClock(timestampMs: number): string {
+  const date = new Date(timestampMs);
+  const hours = String(date.getHours()).padStart(2, "0");
+  const minutes = String(date.getMinutes()).padStart(2, "0");
+  return `${hours}:${minutes}`;
+}
+
+/** Bot name, message counters and last activity, each behind a muted dot. */
+function buildTelegramStatusBarDetails(
+  theme: TelegramStatusBarTheme,
+  glyphs: TelegramStatusBarGlyphs,
+  state: TelegramStatusBarState,
+): string {
+  const parts: string[] = [];
+  if (state.botUsername) parts.push(`@${state.botUsername}`);
+  if (state.traffic) {
+    parts.push(
+      `${glyphs.input}${state.traffic.received} ${glyphs.output}${state.traffic.sent}`,
+    );
+    if (state.traffic.lastAtMs !== undefined) {
+      parts.push(
+        `${glyphs.time} ${formatTelegramStatusBarClock(state.traffic.lastAtMs)}`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  return parts
+    .map((part) => theme.fg("muted", `${glyphs.dot}${part}`))
+    .join("");
+}
+
+function buildTelegramTrafficLines(
+  state: Pick<TelegramBridgeStatusLineState, "traffic">,
+): string[] {
+  if (!state.traffic) return [];
+  const last =
+    state.traffic.lastAtMs === undefined
+      ? ""
+      : `, last ${formatTelegramStatusBarClock(state.traffic.lastAtMs)}`;
+  return [
+    `- messages: ${state.traffic.received} received, ${state.traffic.sent} sent${last}`,
+  ];
+}
+
 export function buildTelegramStatusBarText(
   theme: TelegramStatusBarTheme,
   state: TelegramStatusBarState,
 ): string {
+  const glyphs = resolveTelegramStatusBarGlyphs(theme);
   const label = theme.fg("accent", getTelegramStatusBarLabel(state));
-  if (state.error) {
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("error", "error")} ${theme.fg("muted", state.error)}`;
-  }
+  const hint = (text: string) => theme.fg("muted", `${glyphs.dot}${text}`);
   const queued = state.queuedStatus
     ? theme.fg("success", state.queuedStatus)
     : "";
-  if (!state.hasBotToken)
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("muted", "not configured")}${queued}`;
-  if (!state.paired)
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("warning", "awaiting pairing")}${queued}`;
-  if (state.busLifecyclePhase === "electing")
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("warning", "electing")}${queued}`;
-  if (!state.pollingActive && state.busRole !== "follower")
-    return `${theme.fg("accent", "telegram")} ${theme.fg("muted", "disconnected")}${queued}`;
+  if (state.error) {
+    return `${label} ${theme.fg("error", `${glyphs.error} error`)} ${theme.fg("muted", state.error)}`;
+  }
+  if (!state.hasBotToken) {
+    return `${label} ${theme.fg("muted", `${glyphs.disabled} not configured`)}${queued}${hint("/telegram-setup")}`;
+  }
+  if (!state.paired) {
+    const bot = state.botUsername ? `@${state.botUsername}` : "the bot";
+    return `${label} ${theme.fg("warning", `${glyphs.warning} awaiting pairing`)}${queued}${hint(`send /start to ${bot}`)}`;
+  }
+  if (state.busLifecyclePhase === "electing") {
+    return `${label} ${theme.fg("warning", `${glyphs.running} electing`)}${queued}`;
+  }
+  if (!state.pollingActive && state.busRole !== "follower") {
+    return `${theme.fg("accent", "telegram")} ${theme.fg("muted", `${glyphs.shadowed} disconnected`)}${queued}${hint("/telegram-connect")}`;
+  }
+  const details = buildTelegramStatusBarDetails(theme, glyphs, state);
   if (state.processing) {
     const processingStatus = state.queuedStatus
       ? "active"
       : (state.processingStatus ?? "processing");
     const processingToken =
       processingStatus === "active" ? "warning" : "accent";
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg(processingToken, processingStatus)}${queued}`;
+    return `${label} ${theme.fg(processingToken, `${glyphs.running} ${processingStatus}`)}${queued}${details}`;
   }
-  if (state.busRole === "follower")
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("success", "follower")}${queued}`;
-  if (state.busRole === "leader")
-    return `${label} ${theme.fg("success", "leader")}`;
-  return `${label} ${theme.fg("success", "connected")}`;
+  const role = state.busRole ?? "connected";
+  return `${label} ${theme.fg("success", `${glyphs.enabled} ${role}`)}${queued}${details}`;
 }
 
 function formatTelegramBridgeBotStatus(
@@ -1079,6 +1185,7 @@ function buildTelegramBridgeCompactStatusLines(
     `- bot: ${formatTelegramBridgeBotStatus(state)}`,
     ...(state.activeProfileName ? [`- profile: ${state.activeProfileName}`] : []),
     `- user: ${state.allowedUserId ?? "not paired"}`,
+    ...buildTelegramTrafficLines(state),
     ...(state.botThreadMode ? [`- thread mode: ${state.botThreadMode}`] : []),
     ...(state.busRole ? [`- role: ${state.busRole}`] : []),
     ...(state.busLifecyclePhase
@@ -1134,6 +1241,7 @@ export function buildTelegramBridgeDiagnosticStatusLines(
     `- bot: ${formatTelegramBridgeBotStatus(state)}`,
     ...(state.activeProfileName ? [`- profile: ${state.activeProfileName}`] : []),
     `- allowed user: ${state.allowedUserId ?? "not paired"}`,
+    ...buildTelegramTrafficLines(state),
     ...(state.botThreadMode
       ? [
           `- thread mode: ${state.botThreadMode}${state.botThreadModeAction ? ` reconcile=${state.botThreadModeAction}` : ""}`,
diff --git a/lib/telegram-api.ts b/lib/telegram-api.ts
index 7f78fb9..65a9529 100644
--- a/lib/telegram-api.ts
+++ b/lib/telegram-api.ts
@@ -375,6 +375,8 @@ export interface TelegramBridgeApiRuntimeDeps {
     error: unknown,
     details?: Record<string, unknown>,
   ) => void;
+  /** Called after a Bot API call or multipart upload succeeded. */
+  onCallSucceeded?: (method: string) => void;
 }
 
 export interface TelegramBridgeApiRuntime {
@@ -1246,6 +1248,7 @@ export function createTelegramAssistantDraftSender(deps: {
 export function createDefaultTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(deps: {
   getBotToken: () => string | undefined;
   recordRuntimeEvent: TelegramBridgeApiRuntimeDeps["recordRuntimeEvent"];
+  onCallSucceeded?: TelegramBridgeApiRuntimeDeps["onCallSucceeded"];
 }): TelegramBridgeApiRuntime {
   return createTelegramBridgeApiRuntime({
     client: createTelegramApiClient(deps.getBotToken, {
@@ -1255,6 +1258,7 @@ export function createDefaultTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(deps: {
     maxFileSizeBytes: TELEGRAM_INBOUND_FILE_MAX_BYTES,
     tempFileMaxAgeMs: TELEGRAM_TEMP_FILE_MAX_AGE_MS,
     recordRuntimeEvent: deps.recordRuntimeEvent,
+    onCallSucceeded: deps.onCallSucceeded,
   });
 }
 
@@ -1266,8 +1270,9 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(
     body: Record<string, unknown>,
     options?: TelegramApiCallOptions,
   ): Promise<TResponse> => {
+    let response: TResponse;
     try {
-      return await deps.client.call<TResponse>(method, body, options);
+      response = await deps.client.call<TResponse>(method, body, options);
     } catch (error) {
       deps.recordRuntimeEvent(
         "api",
@@ -1276,6 +1281,8 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(
       );
       throw error;
     }
+    deps.onCallSucceeded?.(method);
+    return response;
   };
   return {
     call: callRecorded,
@@ -1285,16 +1292,17 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(
      * photos, documents, animations, etc.).
      * Errors are recorded under the "multipart" category for diagnostics.
      */
-    callMultipart: async (
-      method,
-      fields,
-      fileField,
-      filePath,
-      fileName,
-      options,
-    ) => {
+    callMultipart: async <TResponse>(
+      method: string,
+      fields: Record<string, string>,
+      fileField: string,
+      filePath: string,
+      fileName: string,
+      options?: TelegramApiCallOptions,
+    ): Promise<TResponse> => {
+      let response: TResponse;
       try {
-        return await deps.client.callMultipart(
+        response = await deps.client.callMultipart<TResponse>(
           method,
           fields,
           fileField,
@@ -1310,6 +1318,8 @@ export function createTelegramBridgeApiRuntime(
         );
         throw error;
       }
+      deps.onCallSucceeded?.(method);
+      return response;
     },
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/traffic.ts b/lib/traffic.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f933d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/traffic.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+/**
+ * Telegram bridge traffic counters
+ * Zones: telegram transport, status
+ * Owns in-memory received/sent message counts and last-activity time for the status bar
+ *
+ * This domain is pure: it counts, it does not read config, call Telegram, or import other domains.
+ */
+
+export interface TelegramTrafficSnapshot {
+  /** Authorized messages received from the paired owner since the bridge loaded. */
+  received: number;
+  /** Messages the bridge delivered to Telegram since the bridge loaded. */
+  sent: number;
+  /** Time of the latest received or sent message, when there was one. */
+  lastAtMs?: number;
+}
+
+export interface TelegramTrafficCounters {
+  recordReceived: () => void;
+  recordSent: () => void;
+  snapshot: () => TelegramTrafficSnapshot;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Bot API methods that deliver a message the owner can read. Typing actions,
+ * drafts, edits, reactions and callback answers are not messages.
+ */
+const TELEGRAM_OUTBOUND_MESSAGE_METHODS: Readonly<Record<string, true>> = {
+  sendMessage: true,
+  sendRichMessage: true,
+  sendPhoto: true,
+  sendDocument: true,
+  sendAudio: true,
+  sendVideo: true,
+  sendVoice: true,
+  sendAnimation: true,
+  sendVideoNote: true,
+  sendMediaGroup: true,
+  sendSticker: true,
+};
+
+export function isTelegramOutboundMessageMethod(method: string): boolean {
+  return Object.hasOwn(TELEGRAM_OUTBOUND_MESSAGE_METHODS, method);
+}
+
+export function createTelegramTrafficCounters(
+  now: () => number = Date.now,
+): TelegramTrafficCounters {
+  let received = 0;
+  let sent = 0;
+  let lastAtMs: number | undefined;
+  return {
+    recordReceived() {
+      received += 1;
+      lastAtMs = now();
+    },
+    recordSent() {
+      sent += 1;
+      lastAtMs = now();
+    },
+    snapshot: () => ({
+      received,
+      sent,
+      ...(lastAtMs === undefined ? {} : { lastAtMs }),
+    }),
+  };
+}
+
+export interface TelegramTrafficStatusBridgeDeps<TContext> {
+  counters: TelegramTrafficCounters;
+  /** Current session context, when the bridge has one. */
+  getContext: () => TContext | undefined;
+  updateStatus: (ctx: TContext) => void;
+  recordRuntimeEvent: (
+    category: string,
+    error: unknown,
+    details?: Record<string, unknown>,
+  ) => void;
+}
+
+export interface TelegramTrafficStatusBridge<TContext> {
+  /** Observer for successful Bot API calls; counts delivered messages. */
+  onCallSucceeded: (method: string) => void;
+  /** Observer for messages accepted from the paired owner. */
+  onAuthorizedMessage: (ctx: TContext) => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Counts traffic and refreshes the status bar so the counters stay current. A
+ * status refresh failure (for example a stale session context) is recorded and
+ * never propagates into the send or receive path that triggered it.
+ */
+export function createTelegramTrafficStatusBridge<TContext>(
+  deps: TelegramTrafficStatusBridgeDeps<TContext>,
+): TelegramTrafficStatusBridge<TContext> {
+  const refreshStatus = (ctx: TContext): void => {
+    try {
+      deps.updateStatus(ctx);
+    } catch (error) {
+      deps.recordRuntimeEvent("status", error, { phase: "traffic-refresh" });
+    }
+  };
+  return {
+    onCallSucceeded(method) {
+      if (!isTelegramOutboundMessageMethod(method)) return;
+      deps.counters.recordSent();
+      const ctx = deps.getContext();
+      if (ctx !== undefined) refreshStatus(ctx);
+    },
+    onAuthorizedMessage(ctx) {
+      deps.counters.recordReceived();
+      refreshStatus(ctx);
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/tests/status.test.ts b/tests/status.test.ts
index 301302d..80bf5a9 100644
--- a/tests/status.test.ts
+++ b/tests/status.test.ts
@@ -111,248 +111,165 @@ test("Status runtime diagnostics scheduler coalesces snapshot persists", async (
   assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
 });
 
-test("Status bar text renders bridge connection and queue states", () => {
-  const theme = {
-    fg: (token: string, text: string) => `<${token}>${text}</${token}>`,
+const statusBarTheme = {
+  fg: (token: string, text: string) => `<${token}>${text}</${token}>`,
+};
+
+function plainStatusText(text: string): string {
+  return text.replace(/<\/?[a-z]+>/g, "");
+}
+
+function escapeRegExp(text: string): string {
+  return text.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
+}
+
+test("Status bar text keeps the label, state color and queue for every connection state", () => {
+  const base = {
+    hasBotToken: true,
+    pollingActive: true,
+    paired: true,
+    compactionInProgress: false,
+    processing: false,
+    queuedStatus: "",
   };
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: false,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: false,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <muted>not configured</muted>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      queuedStatus: " +1",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning><success> +1</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "dispatching",
-      queuedStatus: " +1",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning><success> +1</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "active",
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: true,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <success>connected</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: true,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "active",
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      instanceThreadName: "Aurora",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "queued",
-      queuedStatus: " +2",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <muted>disconnected</muted><success> +2</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <success>follower</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      instanceThreadName: "Amber",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "active",
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>Amber</accent> <warning>active</warning>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      busLifecyclePhase: "electing",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>electing</warning>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busLifecyclePhase: "electing",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>electing</warning>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      instanceThreadName: "Follower",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <success>follower</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      instanceThreadName: "Lname",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>Lname</accent> <success>follower</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      instanceSlot: "O",
-      instanceThreadName: "extensions Follower",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>extensions Follower</accent> <success>follower</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: false,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "follower",
-      instanceSlot: "O",
-      instanceThreadName: "Oname",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>Oname</accent> <success>follower</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "leader",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <success>leader</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      busRole: "leader",
-      instanceThreadName: "🌙 A-identity",
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
-    }),
-    "<accent>🌙 A-identity</accent> <success>leader</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: false,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: true,
-      processingStatus: "queued",
-      queuedStatus: " +1",
-    }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>awaiting pairing</warning><success> +1</success>",
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    buildTelegramStatusBarText(theme, {
-      hasBotToken: true,
-      pollingActive: true,
-      paired: true,
-      compactionInProgress: false,
-      processing: false,
-      queuedStatus: "",
+  const cases: Array<{
+    state: Partial<Parameters<typeof buildTelegramStatusBarText>[1]>;
+    label: string;
+    token: string;
+    word: string;
+    queued?: string;
+  }> = [
+    { state: { hasBotToken: false, pollingActive: false, paired: false }, label: "telegram", token: "muted", word: "not configured" },
+    { state: { processing: true, queuedStatus: " +1" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "active", queued: " +1" },
+    { state: { processing: true, processingStatus: "dispatching", queuedStatus: " +1" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "active", queued: " +1" },
+    { state: { processing: true, processingStatus: "active" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "active" },
+    { state: { compactionInProgress: true }, label: "telegram", token: "success", word: "connected" },
+    { state: { compactionInProgress: true, processing: true, processingStatus: "active" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "active" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, instanceThreadName: "Aurora", processing: true, processingStatus: "queued", queuedStatus: " +2" }, label: "telegram", token: "muted", word: "disconnected", queued: " +2" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower" }, label: "telegram", token: "success", word: "follower" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", instanceThreadName: "Amber", processing: true, processingStatus: "active" }, label: "Amber", token: "warning", word: "active" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", busLifecyclePhase: "electing" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "electing" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busLifecyclePhase: "electing" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "electing" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", instanceThreadName: "Follower" }, label: "telegram", token: "success", word: "follower" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", instanceThreadName: "Lname" }, label: "Lname", token: "success", word: "follower" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", instanceSlot: "O", instanceThreadName: "extensions Follower" }, label: "extensions Follower", token: "success", word: "follower" },
+    { state: { pollingActive: false, busRole: "follower", instanceSlot: "O", instanceThreadName: "Oname" }, label: "Oname", token: "success", word: "follower" },
+    { state: { busRole: "leader" }, label: "telegram", token: "success", word: "leader" },
+    { state: { busRole: "leader", instanceThreadName: "🌙 A-identity" }, label: "🌙 A-identity", token: "success", word: "leader" },
+    { state: { paired: false, processing: true, processingStatus: "queued", queuedStatus: " +1" }, label: "telegram", token: "warning", word: "awaiting pairing", queued: " +1" },
+  ];
+  for (const { state, label, token, word, queued } of cases) {
+    const text = buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, { ...base, ...state });
+    const expected = new RegExp(
+      `^<accent>${escapeRegExp(label)}</accent> <${token}>\\S+ ${word}</${token}>${queued ? `<success>${escapeRegExp(queued)}</success>` : ""}`,
+    );
+    assert.match(text, expected, JSON.stringify(state));
+  }
+  assert.match(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, {
+      ...base,
       error: "typing failed",
     }),
-    "<accent>telegram</accent> <error>error</error> <muted>typing failed</muted>",
+    /^<accent>telegram<\/accent> <error>\S+ error<\/error> <muted>typing failed<\/muted>$/,
   );
 });
 
+test("Status bar shows bot, message counters and last activity only while the bridge is up", () => {
+  const lastAtMs = new Date(2026, 9, 1, 14, 32).getTime();
+  const connected = {
+    hasBotToken: true,
+    pollingActive: true,
+    paired: true,
+    compactionInProgress: false,
+    processing: false,
+    queuedStatus: "",
+    botUsername: "demo_bot",
+    traffic: { received: 12, sent: 11, lastAtMs },
+  };
+  const up = plainStatusText(buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, connected));
+  assert.match(up, /connected/);
+  assert.match(up, /@demo_bot/);
+  assert.match(up, /12 \S*11/);
+  assert.match(up, /14:32/);
+
+  const withoutActivity = plainStatusText(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, {
+      ...connected,
+      traffic: { received: 0, sent: 0 },
+    }),
+  );
+  assert.match(withoutActivity, /0 \S*0/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(withoutActivity, /\d\d:\d\d/);
+
+  const working = plainStatusText(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, {
+      ...connected,
+      processing: true,
+      processingStatus: "active",
+    }),
+  );
+  assert.match(working, /active/);
+  assert.match(working, /@demo_bot/);
+  assert.match(working, /12 \S*11/);
+
+  const offline = plainStatusText(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, { ...connected, pollingActive: false }),
+  );
+  assert.doesNotMatch(offline, /@demo_bot|14:32/);
+  assert.match(offline, /disconnected/);
+});
+
+test("Status bar tells the operator how to leave a non-working state", () => {
+  const base = {
+    hasBotToken: true,
+    pollingActive: false,
+    paired: true,
+    compactionInProgress: false,
+    processing: false,
+    queuedStatus: "",
+  };
+  assert.match(
+    plainStatusText(buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, { ...base, hasBotToken: false, paired: false })),
+    /\/telegram-setup/,
+  );
+  const pairing = plainStatusText(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, { ...base, paired: false, botUsername: "demo_bot" }),
+  );
+  assert.match(pairing, /\/start/);
+  assert.match(pairing, /@demo_bot/);
+  assert.match(
+    plainStatusText(buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, base)),
+    /\/telegram-connect/,
+  );
+});
+
+test("Status bar follows the host symbol preset and falls back without one", () => {
+  const state = {
+    hasBotToken: true,
+    pollingActive: true,
+    paired: true,
+    compactionInProgress: false,
+    processing: false,
+    queuedStatus: "",
+    botUsername: "demo_bot",
+    traffic: { received: 3, sent: 2, lastAtMs: new Date(2026, 9, 1, 9, 5).getTime() },
+  };
+  const ascii = plainStatusText(
+    buildTelegramStatusBarText(
+      {
+        ...statusBarTheme,
+        status: { enabled: "[x]" },
+        sep: { dot: " - " },
+        icon: { input: "in:", output: "out:", time: "t:" },
+      },
+      state,
+    ),
+  );
+  assert.equal(ascii, "telegram [x] connected - @demo_bot - in:3 out:2 - t: 09:05");
+  const fallback = plainStatusText(buildTelegramStatusBarText(statusBarTheme, state));
+  assert.match(fallback, /^telegram \S+ connected · @demo_bot · \S*3 \S*2 · \S+ 09:05$/u);
+});
+
 test("Status runtime updates the status bar and exposes bridge lines", () => {
   const events: string[] = [];
   const ctx = {
@@ -390,9 +307,9 @@ test("Status runtime updates the status bar and exposes bridge lines", () => {
     }),
   });
   runtime.updateStatus(ctx, "demo error");
-  assert.equal(
+  assert.match(
     events[0],
-    "telegram:<accent>telegram</accent> <error>error</error> <muted>demo error</muted>",
+    /^telegram:<accent>telegram<\/accent> <error>\S+ error<\/error> <muted>demo error<\/muted>$/,
   );
   assert.deepEqual(runtime.getStatusLines().slice(0, 3), [
     "connection:",
@@ -550,9 +467,9 @@ test("Bridge status runtime stays active while tools run after queue changes", (
       },
     },
   });
-  assert.equal(
+  assert.match(
     events[0],
-    "telegram:<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning>",
+    /^telegram:<accent>telegram<\/accent> <warning>\S+ active<\/warning>/,
   );
 });
 
@@ -589,9 +506,9 @@ test("Bridge status runtime builds status state from live ports", () => {
       },
     },
   });
-  assert.equal(
+  assert.match(
     events[0],
-    "telegram:<accent>telegram</accent> <warning>active</warning><success> +1</success>",
+    /^telegram:<accent>telegram<\/accent> <warning>\S+ active<\/warning><success> \+1<\/success>/,
   );
   assert.deepEqual(runtime.getStatusLines(), [
     "connection:",
diff --git a/tests/traffic.test.ts b/tests/traffic.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7847105
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/traffic.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+/**
+ * Regression tests for the Telegram traffic counters
+ * Covers what counts as a message, last-activity tracking, and the /telegram-status line.
+ */
+
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import test from "node:test";
+
+import { buildTelegramBridgeStatusLines } from "../lib/status.ts";
+import {
+  createTelegramTrafficCounters,
+  createTelegramTrafficStatusBridge,
+  isTelegramOutboundMessageMethod,
+} from "../lib/traffic.ts";
+
+test("Traffic counters count both directions and remember the latest activity", () => {
+  let nowMs = 1_000;
+  const counters = createTelegramTrafficCounters(() => nowMs);
+  assert.deepEqual(counters.snapshot(), { received: 0, sent: 0 });
+  counters.recordReceived();
+  nowMs = 2_000;
+  counters.recordSent();
+  counters.recordSent();
+  assert.deepEqual(counters.snapshot(), {
+    received: 1,
+    sent: 2,
+    lastAtMs: 2_000,
+  });
+});
+
+test("Only calls that deliver a readable message count as sent", () => {
+  for (const method of ["sendMessage", "sendRichMessage", "sendPhoto", "sendDocument", "sendVoice"]) {
+    assert.equal(isTelegramOutboundMessageMethod(method), true, method);
+  }
+  for (const method of [
+    "sendChatAction",
+    "sendMessageDraft",
+    "editMessageText",
+    "setMessageReaction",
+    "answerCallbackQuery",
+    "getUpdates",
+    "toString",
+  ]) {
+    assert.equal(isTelegramOutboundMessageMethod(method), false, method);
+  }
+});
+
+test("Status lines report the message counters and the time of the last one", () => {
+  const baseState = {
+    botUsername: "demo_bot",
+    allowedUserId: 7,
+    pollingActive: true,
+    pendingDispatch: false,
+    compactionInProgress: false,
+    activeToolExecutions: 0,
+    pendingModelSwitch: false,
+    queuedItems: [],
+    recentRuntimeEvents: [],
+  };
+  const withTraffic = buildTelegramBridgeStatusLines({
+    ...baseState,
+    traffic: { received: 12, sent: 11, lastAtMs: new Date(2026, 9, 1, 14, 32).getTime() },
+  });
+  assert.ok(
+    withTraffic.includes("- messages: 12 received, 11 sent, last 14:32"),
+    withTraffic.join("\n"),
+  );
+  const withoutTraffic = buildTelegramBridgeStatusLines(baseState);
+  assert.equal(withoutTraffic.some((line) => line.startsWith("- messages:")), false);
+});
+
+test("Traffic bridge counts delivered messages and refreshes the status with the current context", () => {
+  const counters = createTelegramTrafficCounters();
+  const refreshed: string[] = [];
+  let context: string | undefined = "session-a";
+  const bridge = createTelegramTrafficStatusBridge({
+    counters,
+    getContext: () => context,
+    updateStatus: (ctx: string) => {
+      refreshed.push(ctx);
+    },
+    recordRuntimeEvent: () => {},
+  });
+  bridge.onCallSucceeded("sendChatAction");
+  bridge.onCallSucceeded("editMessageText");
+  assert.deepEqual(counters.snapshot(), { received: 0, sent: 0 });
+  assert.deepEqual(refreshed, []);
+  bridge.onCallSucceeded("sendRichMessage");
+  assert.equal(counters.snapshot().sent, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(refreshed, ["session-a"]);
+  context = undefined;
+  bridge.onCallSucceeded("sendMessage");
+  assert.equal(counters.snapshot().sent, 2);
+  assert.deepEqual(refreshed, ["session-a"]);
+  bridge.onAuthorizedMessage("session-b");
+  assert.equal(counters.snapshot().received, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(refreshed, ["session-a", "session-b"]);
+});
+
+test("Traffic bridge records a failed status refresh instead of breaking the message path", () => {
+  const counters = createTelegramTrafficCounters();
+  const recorded: string[] = [];
+  const bridge = createTelegramTrafficStatusBridge({
+    counters,
+    getContext: () => "session",
+    updateStatus: () => {
+      throw new Error("stale ctx");
+    },
+    recordRuntimeEvent: (category, error, details) => {
+      recorded.push(`${category}:${(error as Error).message}:${details?.phase}`);
+    },
+  });
+  bridge.onCallSucceeded("sendMessage");
+  bridge.onAuthorizedMessage("session");
+  assert.deepEqual(counters.snapshot().received, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(counters.snapshot().sent, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(recorded, [
+    "status:stale ctx:traffic-refresh",
+    "status:stale ctx:traffic-refresh",
+  ]);
+});