How do I know which operators support local values? How do I send local topups?

Top-up · Local Connections

Skip the FX entirely — send in the recipient's own currency

What a "local connection" is, how to check if an operator supports it, and how to send local values through the Portal or the API.

Available for

Select countries

Key parameter

useLocalAmount

Level

Technical

Sending local values means topping up a phone in the recipient's own local currency, with no FX conversion involved at all. This is called a local connection, and it's only available for certain countries and operators.

ℹ️ Not registered yet? Create your account at reloadly.com/registration before going further.

In this article

Check for local connections in the Portal
Send local values through the API
Check for local connections through the API
Frequently asked questions

Check for local connections in the Portal

Select Local in the Discount type dropdown.
Filter by either SKU/Operator Name or Country.
Select or type your destination in the last field and click Search.

🔍 Nothing appears

That operator/country doesn't support local connections.

✅ Results appear

You'll see the operators, discounts, and the local values you can send.

Important: to send local values through the Portal, your account currency must match the destination country's currency.

Send local values through the API

When a local connection exists for that operator, set useLocalAmount to true in your request body:

{
  "operatorId": 342,
  "useLocalAmount": true,
  "amount": 100,
  "recipientPhone": {
    "countryCode": "NG",
    "number": "+2348024113519"
  },
  "senderPhone": {
    "countryCode": "US",
    "number": "+13055555555"
  }
}

Full reference for this request: developers.reloadly.com/#topups and the Send Topup endpoint docs.

Check for local connections through the API

Call this endpoint with a specific operator's SKU — found in the first column of the Portal's Pricing page:

GET

https://topups.reloadly.com/operators/342

Check the supportsLocalAmounts field in the response — true means the operator supports local connections, false means it doesn't:

{
  "operatorId": 342,
  "name": "Airtel Nigeria",
  "bundle": false,
  "data": false,
  "pin": false,
  "supportsLocalAmounts": true,
  "denominationType": "RANGE",
  "senderCurrencyCode": "USD",
  "senderCurrencySymbol": "$",
  "destinationCurrencyCode": "NGN",
  "destinationCurrencySymbol": "₦",
  "commission": 3.0,
  "internationalDiscount": 3.0,
  "localDiscount": 1.0,
  "mostPopularAmount": 15,
  "mostPopularLocalAmount": null,
  "minAmount": 0.14,
  "maxAmount": 138,
  "localMinAmount": 50,
  "localMaxAmount": 50000.00,
  "country": {
    "isoName": "NG",
    "name": "Nigeria"
  },
  "fx": {
    "rate": 360,
    "currencyCode": "NGN"
  },
  "fixedAmounts": [],
  "localFixedAmounts": [],
  "suggestedAmounts": [1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ...],
  "promotions": []
}

internationalDiscount 3.0% — your commission when sending the standard (FX-converted) amount.

localDiscount 1.0% — your commission specifically when sending a local value.

localMinAmount / localMaxAmount 50 to 50,000 NGN — the valid range when sending in the local currency.

minAmount / maxAmount 0.14 to 138 USD — the valid range when sending the standard FX-converted amount instead.

💡 Notice the two discount rates differ. Local and international connections to the same operator can carry different commission percentages — always check both fields rather than assuming they match.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Do all operators support local connections?

No — only certain countries and operators do. Always check supportsLocalAmounts via the API, or search with Discount type set to Local in the Portal, before assuming it's available.

Can I send local values through the Portal in any account currency?

No — your account currency must match the destination country's currency to send local values through the Portal. This restriction doesn't apply the same way through the API.

Where do I find an operator's SKU to check local support?

It's the first column on the Portal's Pricing page — use that same number as the operatorId in your API calls.

Still have questions about local connections?

Let us know and we'll be glad to help.

Contact support →