Suriname: 2 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2023)

Suriname – known for being the smallest country in South America, one of the two South American nations where they drive on the left & for having only one cinema.

Anguilla can learn from Suriname – those in Anguilla have to go to Sint Maarten if they wish to go to a cinema.

Back to Suriname – it is a popular travel destination for the Dutch due to historical links.

But why do the Dutch, and other travelers, go to Suriname?

First, the temperature is always pleasant – especially for those from the Northern Hemisphere having to endure a cold winter.

But the country also has a lot of attractions.

As the majority of the country consists of rainforests, the nature in Suriname is stunning.

You also have plenty of hiking trails to explore.

The historic inner city of Paramaribo is exciting to see compared to modern Paramaribo.

If you like to see sea turtles, head to Braamspunt or Marapica Beach.

See, there is no reason to be bored in Suriname.

While Suriname is comparatively an inexpensive travel destination, it is always a good idea to find ways to keep your travel expenses even lower.

That is why you should get a local SIM card to enjoy local rates – much cheaper than international roaming.

Fortunately, SIM cards are cheap in Suriname

You can get a Surinamese SIM card for 70 SRD (2.20 USD) from Telesur and Digicel in their stores and from select resellers, including electronic shops and grocery stores. SIM cards are also available at Paramaribo-Zanderij/Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM).

Would it surprise you that Suriname has the fastest mobile download speeds in South America?

Yes, not Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, nor Peru – the smallest nation in South America has the fastest median speeds in the region.

Quite impressive, I would say.

In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Suriname. Let's get started.

Original publication: 28th of December 2019. Last updated: 4th of March 2023.

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Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in Suriname?

Anyone living in or visiting Suriname can buy a Surinamese SIM card from Telesur or Digicel in their stores or from resellers without any restrictions.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in Suriname.

Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Surinamese SIM card.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Suriname?

You can get a Surinamese SIM card in the official stores of Telesur and Digicel or from third-parties, like grocery stores and electronic shops. They are also available at Paramaribo-Zanderij/Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM).

You can expect to pay the following for Surinamese SIM cards:

• Telesur: 70 SRD
• Digicel Suriname: 70 SRD

TIP: Check out my SIM card prices lookup tool for a detailed overview of SIM card starter pack benefits (for Surinamese SIM cards and SIM cards worldwide).

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Can You Use Your Phone in Suriname?

Suriname uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Suriname. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in Suriname which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Suriname.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Suriname or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Suriname (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE and 5G NR (Telesur only).

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Suriname

Suriname has two mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:

• Telesur
• Digicel Suriname

The following frequencies are used in Suriname:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 850 MHz, 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 1800 MHZ (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78 – Telesur only)

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in Suriname, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

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5G NR in Suriname

Commercial 5G NR has been available in Suriname since November 2019. It is available on the Telesur network. Digicel has no 5G NR yet, and it is unknown when it will launch its 5G NR network.

Best SIM Card in Suriname

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Best eSIM in Suriname

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Suriname (yet).

Note that the Surinamese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Suriname without personal detail capturing, you can get the Suriname (Pondocom) eSIM from Airalo with 1 GB of data for 7 days.

Now, you may think this is a sad selection or that 1 GB of data is insufficient.

Both points are true… I agree – but you can make unlimited top-ups with the Pondocom eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.

So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Pondocom 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.

Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for Suriname soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.

The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.

For an in-depth analysis of the Suriname Pondocom eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my Suriname eSIMs Compared guide.

Finally, you can also get Suriname eSIMs from Nomad.

Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!

For an in-depth analysis of the Nomad Suriname eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my Suriname eSIMs Compared guide.

• Check out my Nomad reviews

With these eSIMs, you can skip Suriname's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Suriname!

TIP: check out my Best Suriname eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Suriname, including ones not mentioned above.

Airalo introduced an eSIM for Latin America (Central- and South America): Latamlink. The Latamlink is following the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries and the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries.

The Latamlink eSIM comes in four variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 5 GB/30 days to be used in 19 other and 18 other Latin American countries:

¹ on 3G only

With the Latamlink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!

As you can see, the Latamlink eSIM cannot be used in Suriname (yet).

However, as many who visit Suriname do not just stay in Suriname (often go to Brazil, French Guiana or Guyana as well), you can consider it.

Holafly also has an eSIM covering most of Central- and South America (although the eSIM is called South America eSIM).

But honestly, the Latamlink eSIM is superior (but you can consider the Holafly Central America eSIM if you want 6 GB of data instead in 13 countries – just do not forget about code PHONETRAVELWIZ if you go with Holafly).

TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Suriname and eSIMs worldwide) and my Best Suriname eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Suriname.

SIM Card Registration in Suriname

SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Suriname. This will be done at the point of purchase.

Suriname Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

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Currency in Suriname

Suriname uses the Surinamese Dollar with the symbol SRD (which will be used throughout this guide).

However, prices are often listed as just $. For example, 25 SRD = $25.

For reference, below are some exchange rates between SRD and USD (US Dollars):

• 1 SRD = 0.30 USD
• 10 SRD = 0.30 USD
• 100 SRD = 3.16 USD
• 1000 SRD = 31.55 USD
• 10 000 SRD = 315.51 USD

For up-to-date SRD:USD exchange rates, search SRD to USD on Google, or replace USD with the currency you use.

Surinamese Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Telesur & Digicel Suriname, and go through:

• Background information
• Mobile coverage
• SIM card types, prices, and availability
• Recharge / top-up information
• Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)

With that being said, let’s see what Suriname has to offer to us.

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Telesur

Telesur is the largest mobile operator in Suriname.

It also has the best network performance and the fastest speeds.

In 2019, it had almost triple the average download speed compared to Digicel Suriname.

It is unknown whether this is still the case (hopefully not for Digicel Suriname), but Telesur still has a faster network.

It has also rolled out 5G NR, improving speeds, bandwidth & latency even more.

Telesur uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 1800 MHZ (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)

This is what you will learn about Telesur:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Telesur SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Telesur

Telesur has the best coverage in Suriname.

You should not expect any coverage in the dense rainforests – like neighboring French Guiana (Guyane) and Guyana.

Even then, 4G/LTE reception is still limited – 5G NR is even rarer.

Below is Telesur's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Telesur

You can get a Telesur SIM card for 70 SRD with 10 on-net or local minutes in Telesur stores (1/2). They are also sold at Paramaribo-Zanderij/Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM).

Telesur has no eSIMs.

Note that the Surinamese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Suriname without personal detail capturing, you can get the Suriname (Pondocom) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days – top-ups are available).

The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.

Finally, you can also get Suriname eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).

Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!

• Check out my Nomad reviews

Airalo introduced an eSIM for Latin America (Central- and South America): Latamlink. The Latamlink is following the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries and the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries.

The Latamlink eSIM comes in four variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 5 GB/30 days to be used in 19 other and 18 other Latin American countries:

¹ on 3G only

With the Latamlink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!

As you can see, the Latamlink eSIM cannot be used in Suriname (yet).

However, as many who visit Suriname do not just stay in Suriname (often go to Brazil, French Guiana or Guyana as well), you can consider it.

TIP: check out my Best Suriname eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Suriname, including ones not mentioned above.

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Telesur

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Telesur

Telesur has two data-featured prepaid plans: Mobile Internet (data) & Data Only.

I will list all the prices in SRD (Surinamese Dollar).

To convert SRD to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Mobile Internet Plans – Telesur Suriname

The Mobile Internet plans are, as the name implies, data-only bundles (without 5G NR access except for the 92 0160 MB plan).

The following Mobile Internet are available, which you can activate by texting the Activation Code to 4040:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
25 SRD	150 MB	12 hours	NET 12
49 SRD	2560 MB	1 day	NET 1D
97 SRD	4608 MB	3 days	NET 3D
243 SRD	10752 MB	7 days	NET 7D
731 SRD	25600 MB	30 days	NET 30D
2914 SRD	92160 MB 1	30 days	50GB

¹ for 5G NR access

Data Only Plans – Telesur Suriname

The Data Only plans are, as the name implies, data-only bundles (without 5G NR access).

The following Data Only are available, which you can activate by texting the Activation Code to 4040:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
434 SRD	7168 MB	30 days	go 4
677 SRD	16384 MB	30 days	go 10
919 SRD	29184 MB	30 days	go 15

APN/Internet Settings – Telesur

• Name: Telesur
• APN: win.teleg.sr

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Digicel Suriname

Digicel Suriname, just Digicel, is the smaller mobile operator in Suriname.

Digicel, as a company, is active in many Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.

Digicel uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 850 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)

This is what you will learn about Digicel:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Digicel Suriname

Digicel has decent coverage in populated areas throughout Suriname.

You should not expect any coverage in the dense rainforests – like neighboring French Guiana (Guyane) and Guyana.

Even then, 4G/LTE reception is still limited.

Below is Digicel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Digicel Suriname

You can get a Digicel SIM card for 70 SRD with 1.5 GB for 3 days in Digicel stores and from resellers. They are also sold at Paramaribo-Zanderij/Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM).

You may have to dial *122# to activate your Digicel SIM card if your SIM card does not work upon purchase.

Dial *100# to access the Digicel menu.

Dial *129# to see your Digicel phone number.

Digicel has no eSIMs.

Note that the Surinamese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Suriname without personal detail capturing, you can get the Suriname (Pondocom) eSIM from Airalo (1 GB/7 days – top-ups are available).

The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.

You can also get Suriname eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).

Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!

• Check out my Nomad reviews

Airalo introduced an eSIM for Latin America (Central- and South America): Latamlink. The Latamlink is following the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries and the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries.

The Latamlink eSIM comes in four variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers & 5 GB/30 days to be used in 19 other and 18 other Latin American countries:

¹ on 3G only

With the Latamlink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!

As you can see, the Latamlink eSIM cannot be used in Suriname (yet).

However, as many who visit Suriname do not just stay in Suriname (often go to Brazil, French Guiana or Guyana as well), you can consider it.

TIP: check out my Best Suriname eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Suriname (including ones not mentioned above).

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Suriname

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Suriname

Digicel has only one data-featured prepaid plan: Digicel Prime Bundle (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access).

I will list all the prices in SRD (Surinamese Dollar).

To convert SRD to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

The following Digicel Prime Bundle are available, which can be activated by dialing *100#:

Price	Plan	Data	Social Data 1	Validity
52 SRD	1 Day Digicel Prime Bundle	2.5 GB	1 GB/app	1 day
100 SRD	3 Day Digicel Prime Bundle	4.5 GB	3 GB/app 2	3 days
256 SRD	7 Day Digicel Prime Bundle	10.5 GB	7 GB/app	7 days
745 SRD	30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle	25 GB	30 GB/app	30 days

¹ for BiP, GoLoud, HBO Max, SportsMax & Spotify (so you would have the said data allowance per app, aka 1 GB for BiP, 1 GB for GoLoud, etc., if the data allowance says “1 GB/app”)
² 3.5 GB for BiP instead

APN/Internet Settings – Digicel Suriname

• Name: Digicel
• APN: web.digicelsr.com

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Suriname

Getting a SIM card from Telesur would do you well when considering a Surinamese SIM card.