diff --git a/nativescript-background-http/background-http.android.ts b/nativescript-background-http/background-http.android.ts
index 4f359c0..e29af91 100644
--- a/nativescript-background-http/background-http.android.ts
+++ b/nativescript-background-http/background-http.android.ts
@@ -186,6 +186,12 @@ class Task extends ObservableBase {
             }
         }
 
+        var utf8 = options.utf8;
+
+        if (utf8) {
+            request.setUtf8Charset();
+        }
+
         var displayNotificationProgress = typeof options.androidDisplayNotificationProgress === "boolean" ? options.androidDisplayNotificationProgress : true;
         if (displayNotificationProgress) {
           request.setNotificationConfig(new (<any>net).gotev.uploadservice.UploadNotificationConfig());
diff --git a/nativescript-background-http/index.d.ts b/nativescript-background-http/index.d.ts
index 04643ae..00587d9 100644
--- a/nativescript-background-http/index.d.ts
+++ b/nativescript-background-http/index.d.ts
@@ -149,6 +149,10 @@ export interface Request {
      */
     description: string;
 
+    /**
+     * Use utf8 encode in requests
+     */
+    utf8?: boolean;
 
     /*
      * Use this to set if progress notification should be displayed or not