Telesur

What Telesur does

Telesur (legal name N.V. Telesur, formerly Telecommunicatiebedrijf Suriname) is the state-owned, dominant telecommunications provider of Suriname, headquartered at Tweede Rijweg #34 in Paramaribo. Founded in 1981 and employing 501–1,000 staff, the company controls Suriname's fixed-line, broadband, and mobile markets under full ownership of the Government of Suriname. It serves residential consumers, business customers, and resellers through Telesur shops and branches, an e-commerce platform (e-Shop), the My Telesur self-service portal and mobile app, Uni5Pay+ digital payments, bank transfers, and — since February 2025 — a network of authorized distributors.

The company operates a multi-generation network spanning 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, and Fiber to the Home (FTTH), and since 2017 has executed a phased copper-to-fiber rollout ('Verglazen van Suriname') across Suriname's districts, with Phase 4 currently targeting Paramaribo. Core products include fixed-line telephony, prepaid and postpaid mobile services (bundled with smartphone financing), fiber broadband at minimum 100/100 Mbps since February 2026, the Telesur+ streaming platform, MiFi routers, and physical/e-SIM cards. Strategic partnerships with Squire Technologies (BSS/OSS integration announced May 2026) and EllaLink (Caribbean Gateway submarine cable, Letter of Intent May 2026, 25-year design life) anchor network modernization and international connectivity diversification.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring mobile, fixed-line, broadband, and streaming subscriptions, complemented by one-time device and accessory sales via the e-Shop. All pricing is denominated in Surinamese Dollars (SRD), with postpaid tiers ranging from SRD 708.88/month (basic 20GB) to multi-thousand-SRD device bundles and iPhone 16 financing at SRD 20,910.31, plus prepaid top-ups capped at SRD 1,000 per transaction and streaming from SRD 65.18. Telesur runs a sales-led go-to-market combining physical retail, digital self-service, and dedicated business packages, executing against the government-backed e-Suriname digital transformation agenda.

Name

Telesur

Legal name

N.V. Telesur (Telecommunicatiebedrijf Suriname)

Website

https://telesur.sr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Telesur is Suriname's state-owned, dominant telecommunications provider, offering fixed-line, mobile (prepaid/postpaid), fiber broadband, and the Telesur+ streaming platform to residential, business, and reseller customers across the country via physical shops, e-Shop, and self-service channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paramaribo

HQ country

Suriname

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mobile Services: Prepaid and postpaid mobile services including voice, SMS, and mobile data. Revenue from airtime recharges, data packages, and device financing through postpaid deals with smartphones.
2. Fixed-line and Broadband Internet: Fixed telephony and high-speed fiber/copper internet connections for residential and business customers. Revenue from monthly subscriptions.
3. e-Shop and Device Sales: Online sales of smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Tecno, ZTE), accessories, SIM cards, and prepaid credit through Telesur's e-commerce platform.
4. Entertainment Services: Telesur+ streaming platform and ATV (Suriname Television) services offering local and international entertainment content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Telesur is the incumbent state-owned telecommunications operator of Suriname, providing integrated fixed-line telephony, mobile voice and data (prepaid and postpaid), fiber-based broadband internet, and streaming/IPTV entertainment services to residential and business customers across the country. It owns and operates the national fiber backbone and 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile networks, distributing its services through company-owned retail shops, an online e-shop, and a self-care portal.

Product overview

Telesur operates as a full-service telecommunications provider offering a unified portfolio of fixed-line telephony, mobile services (prepaid and postpaid), broadband internet via fiber infrastructure, and digital services. The core offering centers on mobile and fixed-line voice/text services paired with internet connectivity, supplemented by the Telesur+ streaming platform, an e-Shop for devices and accessories, and the My Telesur self-service portal for customer account management. The company is undergoing a major network modernization initiative (FTTH) to replace copper infrastructure with fiber, with new fiber packages offering 100+ Mbps speeds. Roaming, SIM cards (physical and e-SIM), and data add-on packages extend the core mobile service, while the MiFi router provides portable Wi-Fi connectivity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Telesur+: Suriname's all-in-one streaming platform offering local talent and international entertainment content.
• My Telesur
• ATV

Products and services

• Mobile services (prepaid and postpaid) Mobile voice, SMS, and mobile data service for individual consumers and businesses in Suriname, delivered over Telesur's 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile network under prepaid recharge and postpaid subscription plans.
• Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet High-speed fixed-line broadband internet for residential and business customers across Suriname, delivered over Telesur's national fiber backbone with tiered speed and data packages.
• Fixed-line telephony Traditional fixed-line voice telephone service for households, businesses, and government institutions in Suriname, operating over Telesur's legacy and next-generation fixed network.
• Streaming / IPTV entertainment Subscription-based streaming and IPTV content service from Telesur, providing TV and on-demand entertainment channels to residential and business customers in Suriname, often bundled with broadband.
• Business internet and enterprise connectivity Dedicated fiber internet, fixed-line, and corporate mobile solutions targeted at businesses, public-sector, and government customers in Suriname, leveraging Telesur's national fiber backbone and EllaLink submarine cable for international capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10x higher internet speeds for fiber customers starting February 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EllaLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Telesur and EllaLink Ireland Limited signed a Letter of Intent making Suriname the first country to join the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway, a new high-capacity fiber-optic submarine cable system. The project will provide Suriname with a fully diverse subsea route to global data hubs, reducing dependency on a single corridor, with direct connectivity to Europe via EllaLink's transatlantic system and onward links to Brazil and the United States. Aligned with EU's digital connectivity agenda and Global Gateway strategy.
• Squire TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationTelesur selected Squire Technologies to deploy its Inter-Working Mediation Function (IWF) solution for seamless BSS/OSS integration across its multi-generation network. The deployment supports Telesur's digital transformation strategy and e-Suriname initiative for socio-economic growth through enhanced digital services.
• Conservation InternationalminorOthersTelesur collaborates with Conservation International on environmental protection initiatives in Suriname as part of its CSR sustainability commitments.
• Suriname Conservation FoundationminorOthersTelesur partners with Suriname Conservation Foundation to protect Suriname's nature and combat pollution as part of environmental sustainability efforts.
• Stichting Young Help SurinameminorOthersSince 2017, Telesur supports Young Help Suriname (YHS) which inspires young Surinamese through STEM education and robotics skills development. Telesur is recognized as 'Friend of Robotics Team Suriname' and partner for innovation projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Digicel: Digicel is a major mobile and broadband operator across the Caribbean and parts of South America, offering prepaid/postpaid mobile, fixed broadband, and digital services. Comparable to Telesur as a multi-country full-service telecom serving small emerging markets with similar ARPU dynamics.
• TSTT (Trinidad and Tobago): TSTT is Trinidad and Tobago's incumbent fixed, mobile, and broadband operator with government shareholding. Comparable to Telesur as a Caribbean incumbent undergoing fixed-mobile convergence with similar regulatory and capital constraints.
• Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL): BTL is Belize's state-owned full-service telecommunications provider, offering mobile, fixed-line, internet, and TV. Directly comparable to Telesur as a state-owned small-market incumbent with similar product mix and national champion positioning.
• Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT): GTT is Guyana's dominant fixed-line, mobile, and broadband provider, with significant government ownership ties. Closely comparable to Telesur as a small-country incumbent with similar service mix, regulatory environment, and infrastructure modernization profile.
• Liberty Latin America (Cable & Wireless): Liberty Latin America operates Cable & Wireless-branded fixed, mobile, and subsea cable businesses across the Caribbean and Latin America. Comparable to Telesur as a full-service Caribbean telecom with both consumer and enterprise offerings, plus submarine cable assets.

Regional players

• UTS (Eutelsat Caribbean / Caribbean Telecommunications): UTS is a Caribbean-focused telecom group operating fixed and mobile services across several island markets. Comparable to Telesur as a regional full-service operator, though serving different geographies with overlapping product offerings.

Broad incumbents

• ANTEL Uruguay: ANTEL is Uruguay's state-owned fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and TV operator with national FTTH coverage. Comparable to Telesur as a state-owned South American incumbent executing fiber modernization, though ANTEL operates at significantly larger scale.
• Entel Bolivia: Entel is Bolivia's state-owned mobile, fixed, and enterprise telecom operator. Comparable to Telesur as a state-owned South American telecom champion, though operating at materially larger scale across a bigger population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Telesur_SR
• Facebookfacebook.com/TelesurSR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telesur
• Instagraminstagram.com/telesur_sr
• TikToktiktok.com/@telesur_sr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Telesur