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 110 SRD (2.85 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: 1st of October 2023.
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: 110 SRD
- Digicel Suriname: 110 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).
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.
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
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Suriname, I recommend going with Telesur. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds (more than double Digicel's). It currently offers 5G NR to prepaid customers too.
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).
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Suriname.
But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.
Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).
So here are the two best eSIMs for Suriname:
- Airalo Pondocom eSIM (best value for money)
- Nomad Global eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (109 or 139 countries) at high(er) prices – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Suriname, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).
If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Suriname, you better check out my Suriname eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
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
South America is a relatively inexpensive travel region, especially compared to the Caribbean.
This is also visible when you look at the mobile data rates in South America.
So what about Suriname? Are mobile data low here?
They are average.
The average price for 1 GB of data in Suriname is 1.94 USD, around the South American average of 1.97 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
But you might have noticed something weird in the image above… the Falkland Islands – what is going there?
Long story short for now (but you can learn more about it in the Falkland Islands SIM card buying guide), but anyone living there is being scammed by the local mobile operator.
If I included the Falkland Islands‘ figures in the South American average, the average cost of data would be 5.25 USD instead of 1.97 USD.
So yeah, I do not include it in the average.
What about mobile data speeds?
Are they fast in Suriname? The fastest in South America.
Suriname's median mobile download speed is around 32 Mbps.
The median mobile download speed has gone up by 60% within a year.
Thanks to Telesur launching 5G NR back in 2019 and rolling it out in the big cities in the past year, including Paramarido (capital city), Lelydorp & Nieuw Lickerie.
With low SIM card prices, decent nationwide coverage (in populated areas only – not in rainforests), fast mobile download speeds (in cities), and low mobile data rates, you should have a decent network experience in Suriname.
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 = 0.025 USD
- 10 SRD = 0.25 USD
- 100 SRD = 2.60 USD
- 1000 SRD = 26.10 USD
- 10 000 SRD = 260.95 USD
For up-to-date SRD:USD exchange rates, search SRD to USD on Google, or replace USD with the currency you use.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
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.
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 110 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).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
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.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
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/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of (some) ongoing promotions)!
But during certain promotions where you are required to enter a code for a discount (let's say Tuesdays (web sales only) or public holidays), the discount you get for these special promotions will be more than the 3 USD off with codes ADU123. I suggest using those codes instead for extra savings – I will not blame you for it 😏.
- 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:
- Argentina
- Belize 1
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- French Guiana
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela 1
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.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
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 data 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 | 10 752 MB | 7 days | NET 7D |
| 731 SRD | 25 600 MB | 30 days | NET 30D |
| 2914 SRD | 92 160 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 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 | 16 384 MB | 30 days | go 10 |
| 919 SRD | 29 184 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.
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 110 SRD with 65 SRD of calling credit 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.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
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.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
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/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of (some) ongoing promotions)!
But during certain promotions where you are required to enter a code for a discount (let's say Tuesdays (web sales only) or public holidays), the discount you get for these special promotions will be more than the 3 USD off with codes ADU123. I suggest using those codes instead for extra savings – I will not blame you for it 😏.
- 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:
- Argentina
- Belize 1
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- French Guiana
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela 1
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).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Suriname
Digicel top-up vouchers are sold in Digicel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digicel SIM card, dial *121*VoucherCode# or dial *121# and follow the instructions.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *121*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *120# to check your Digicel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Digicel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Suriname
Digicel has only one data-featured prepaid plan: Prepaid Kies Een Bundel/Choose a Bundle (data).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 SRD | 1 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 2.5 GB | 1 GB/app | 1 day |
| 112 SRD | 3 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 4.5 GB | 3 GB/app | 3 days |
| 268 SRD | 7 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 10.5 GB | 7 GB/app | 7 days |
| 833 SRD | 30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 25 GB | 30/app | 30 days |
1 for BiP, GoLoud, HBO Max, SportsMax & Spotify
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.
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.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other American Countries
Visiting other countries in the Americas? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other American nations, such as:
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy (Barts)
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Sint Eustatius (Statia)
- Sint Maarten
- Suriname
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- Uruguay
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Venezuela
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
Support Phone Travel Wiz
It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out).
Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).
Every Ko-Fi donation, one-time or monthly, helps me to spend more time creating local SIM card buying guides.
Check Out My Resource Page
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience?
Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?
In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
Sign Up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter
Get updates related to the newest guides, videos & recommended products and services.
Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on saving money while traveling every now and then.
Let's Be Social
Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone?
A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
Learn More About Who Adu Actually Is
Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!