{"id":891,"date":"2020-03-25T18:43:39","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T18:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reloadly.com\/blog\/?p=891"},"modified":"2022-02-08T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T13:27:12","slug":"africa-airtime-api","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reloadly.com\/blog\/africa-airtime-api\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Benefits for Africa’s Local Airtime APIs"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s a new feature in Reloadly\u2019s API that now allows local airtime values across several countries in Africa. With one API, Reloadly allows developers and businesses to top-up local airtime across multiple countries and operators.<\/span><\/p>\n

This feature allows developers and businesses in their local countries to now use Reloadly\u2019s API. Reloadly is responding to what its customers was asking for. Connecting to local telcos in Africa is a nightmare, therefore Reloadly makes this easy for developers to quickly plug and play. Here\u2019s five key benefits of using local airtime top up APIs.<\/p>\n

1.Tax Savings<\/h4>\n

Using Reloadly airtime for local amounts represents a savings advantage to customers who previously sent top-ups using international providers. In many countries, by using a local provider you might be liable for taxes and or the provider might deduct local taxes from the airtime amounts delivered to the end-user. Reloadly is an international company, therefore we do not deduct taxes from your airtime recharges.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if an end-user sends 20 Nigerian Naira<\/a> as a top-up and a 1% tax is assessed, the recipient will only receive 19.98 in mobile recharge<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

However, when end-users send top-ups using local amounts governments consider it a \u201cwithin-country\u201d transaction. This means that taxes are not usually assessed.<\/span><\/p>\n

2.No more Foreign Exchange fees<\/h4>\n

In addition, local amounts allow developers or accounts in their local countries to top-up without the hassle of exchange rates. This allows end-users to choose local values and smaller increments of airtime, opening up the possibilities of micro-transactions. With Reloadly<\/a>, you can access local airtime values across many countries while using one single wallet in your preferred currency and with one API. This is a game-changer across Africa where 98% of the continent depends on prepaid phones.<\/p>\n

3. Ability to sell locally in your countries<\/h4>\n

Unlike international top ups, customers for local top ups expect to receive the exact amount in their local currencies when making an airtime top up. With Rel0adly\u2019s local values pipe, this is no more an issue as your customers will receive the exact local value in their local currency. Local airtime top-ups open possibilities for many new digital channels including banks, ATMs, apps, and websites to sell or to use as a reward mechanism in their local countries.<\/p>\n

4. Access local amounts covering 16 different countries in Africa<\/h4>\n

Reloadly gives you access to 16 different countries across Africa with one API<\/a> for local top-ups and adding new ones every month. No more hassles to integrate multiple providers and manage different wallets in each country. We have removed all these complications with simple APIs, one wallet and access to multiple countries.<\/p>\n

5. Direct with Mobile Operators<\/h4>\n

Unlike many other providers, Reloadly<\/a> focuses on establishing direct relationships with the major mobile operators in the region. This relates to better commissions for our customers, a better quality of service and better support.<\/p>\n

How to Use Local Amounts for Mobile Recharge Worldwide<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"mobile<\/p>\n

The local amounts feature presents innumerable benefits and it’s very easy to use.<\/p>\n

First, you must determine if a mobile operator supports top-ups in local currencies. This can be done by examining the <\/span>fixed<\/span> amount field or the range amounts (delineated by the <\/span>min<\/strong> and <\/span>max<\/strong> amount fields). If a <\/span>fixedAmount<\/strong> field\u2019s corresponding <\/span>localFixedAmounts<\/strong> field is not null, that means the operator supports local currencies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Below is a sample response:<\/span><\/p>\n

{<\/span>\n    \"operatorId\": 590,<\/span>\n    \"name\": \"ReachOut PIN USA\",<\/span>\n    \"bundle\": false,<\/span>\n    \"data\": false,<\/span>\n    \"pin\": true,<\/span>\n    \"denominationType\": \"FIXED\",<\/span>\n    \"senderCurrencyCode\": \"EUR\",<\/span>\n    \"senderCurrencySymbol\": \"\u20ac\",<\/span>\n    \"destinationCurrencyCode\": \"USD\",<\/span>\n    \"destinationCurrencySymbol\": \"$\",<\/span>\n    \"commission\": 1.0,<\/span>\n    \"internationalDiscount\": 1.0,<\/span>\n    \"localDiscount\": 0.0,<\/span>\n    \"mostPopularAmount\": 18.14,<\/span>\n    \"mostPopularLocalAmount\": 20.00,<\/span>\n    \"minAmount\": null,<\/span>\n    \"maxAmount\": null,<\/span>\n    \"localMinAmount\": null,<\/span>\n    \"localMaxAmount\": null,<\/span>\n    \"country\": {<\/span>\n        \"isoName\": \"US\",<\/span>\n        \"name\": \"United States\"<\/span>\n    },<\/span>\n    \"fx\": {<\/span>\n        \"rate\": 1.10278,<\/span>\n        \"currencyCode\": \"USD\"<\/span>\n    },<\/span>\n    \"logoUrls\": [<\/span>\n        \"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/rld-operator\/76827a06-2b87-4408-877c-c454e1574bc4-size-1.png\",     \"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/rld-operator\/76827a06-2b87-4408-877c-c454e1574bc4-size-2.png\", \"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/rld-operator\/76827a06-2b87-4408-877c-c454e1574bc4-size-3.png\"<\/span>\n    ],<\/span>\n    \"fixedAmounts\": [<\/span>\n        4.53,<\/span>\n        9.07,<\/span>\n        18.14,<\/span>\n        24.03,<\/span>\n        27.20,<\/span>\n        45.34<\/span>\n    ],<\/span>\n    \"fixedAmountsDescriptions\": {},<\/span>\n    \"localFixedAmounts\": [<\/span>\n        5.00,<\/span>\n        10.00,<\/span>\n        20.00,<\/span>\n        26.50,<\/span>\n        30.00,<\/span>\n        50.00<\/span>\n    ],<\/span>\n    \"localFixedAmountsDescriptions\": {},<\/span>\n    \"suggestedAmounts\": [],<\/span>\n    \"suggestedAmountsMap\": {},<\/span>\n    \"promotions\": []<\/span>\n}<\/span>\n\n<\/pre>\n
Note that if you try to use local amounts and the operator does not support this, you will receive an error code in the response. <\/span>  <\/span><\/p>\n
For more on how to use Reloadly\u2019s API, including the local amounts feature, see the video playlist below.  Want to get started, get your Free API Key<\/a> today!<\/span><\/p>\n
Once you determine if an operator supports local amounts, invoke the feature by calling the new bit field UseLocalAmount<\/strong>. Set this field to true<\/em> when sending the POST. For more details on this, check out the transaction endpoint video<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n