We are continuing our reboot of our ‘Know Your Neighbours’ series, to get an update on our sister countries in the Caribbean region, generally, and of course, from an ICT perspective. Part of the Dutch Caribbean, Suriname is the focus of today’s episode. With Furgell Pinas, the Chair of ICT Association Suriname, we discuss the current state of the country’s ICT sector, including: the internet service available and its affordability; the ICT vision for Suriname that is being promoted by ICT Association Suriname;  key strengths and challenges of the ICT/tech space in Suriname; and the ICT/tech-related opportunities currently evident or emerging in Suriname.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

The country of Suriname does not often make the news in the English-speaking Caribbean. However, it is a full member of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, and so enjoys the benefits of trade, foreign policy harmonisation, technical policy development and coordination under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas..

A former Dutch colony and part of the Dutch Caribbean, the Republic of Suriname is the smallest country in South America and is located between Guyana and French Guiana, covering a geographic area of 163,820 square kilometres (63,251 square miles). As of 2024, its population has been estimated at around 640,000, with a gross national income of USD 5,200.00 in 2023 (Source:  Statista).

Regarding telecoms and ICT, active mobile/cellular connections were estimated at 148 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2025. In that same time frame, approximately 78% of the population uses the internet and enjoys median internet download speeds of 46.18 Mbps for mobile broadband service and 16.11 Mbps for fixed broadband service (Source:  DataReportal).

With that initial context established, let us continue to explore Suriname’s telecoms and ICT sector in this podcast episode.

 

Introducing our guest

Furgell Pinas

Furgell Pinas is a dedicated Surinamese professional with a strong background in the ICT sector. Currently, he serves as the manager of Business Innovation and Development at the local telecommunications company, Telesur, focusing on innovation and organisational growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Infrastructure from Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname, and a Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Technology from the Twente School of Management in the Netherlands.

Since February 2024, Fugell has also been the Chair of the ICT Association Suriname (ICT-AS), a trade organisation with over 70 ICT member companies, through which he promotes the digital transformation and ICT development of the country. Known for his versatility and commitment, Furgell is an avid sports enthusiast, reflecting his passion for both sports and technology as he strives to contribute to Suriname’s progress.

 

Insight into our conversation

Having visited Suriname in the past year, there is a sense that the country is a ‘diamond in the rough’. Though in some ways still a bit underdeveloped, a lot is going on there that the rest of the Caribbean region might not be fully aware of, and there is also considerable potential.

This conversation with Furgell confirmed that impression. There are greenfield opportunities in many areas, which is bolstered by the Government’s commitment to economic diversification and the digital transformation of the country.

Additionally, Suriname is on the verge of developing its oil and gas sector. However, having had a ringside seat at the Guyana (and Venezuela) experience, Suriname is eager not to make the same mistakes.

Below are key questions that drove our conversation with Fugell.

  1. Can you give us a quick overview of Suriname? (population, size, economy, etc.)
  2. With regard to telecommunications and ICT, how developed is it in Suriname? How robust is the competition in the market? How accessible are those services? (Are there parts of the country that are not fully served?)
  3. Are telecommunications and ICT services affordable in Suriname? How is the quality of broadband service?
  4. The ICT Association in Suriname published its own ICT vision for Suriname (ICT Vision 2030).  Why did the Association choose to do so on its own?
  5. What is the vision of the Association for Suriname? And can you share some important goals or targets that were proposed for the country?
  6.  And how receptive have policymakers been to the ICT Vision 2030?
  7. What is it like being an entrepreneur in Suriname? What do you think about the country’s start-up environment/ start-up culture?
  8. What might be some of the idiosyncrasies of Suriname and doing business in Suriname that a foreigner might need to grapple with?
  9. What do you believe are the strengths and challenges of the ICT/tech space in Suriname?
  10. What are some of the ICT/tech-related opportunities that you see in Suriname that you wish would be developed?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise might be useful.

 

 

Images credit:  ICT Association Suriname;  teachandlearn (flickr);  PublicDomainPictures (Pixabay); teachandlearn (flickr);  Wikimedia Commons  

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez