Suriname is set to take a major step forward in expanding its digital connectivity infrastructure, with the country on the verge of securing its second fully independent international fiber-optic link. State-owned telecommunications provider Telesur is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with SPLANG, a French Guiana-based infrastructure firm, laying the formal groundwork for Suriname’s connection to the new Lum@Link submarine cable system. The partnership marks a critical milestone in the South American nation’s push to strengthen its digital backbone and meet growing demand for reliable international internet access. The new route will grant Suriname access to global digital networks through French Guiana, connecting the country directly to network endpoints in Brazil and Europe. This additional connection will not only boost the overall reliability of Suriname’s international internet services but also unlock much-needed extra capacity for business operations, government services, and everyday consumer use across the country. The historic MoU will be signed by Doric Ramlakhan, Chief Executive Officer of Telesur, and Marie-Lucienne Rattier, Chief Executive Officer of SPLANG. Under the terms of the preliminary agreement, Telesur will gain access to capacity on the 2,180-kilometer Lum@Link submarine fiber-optic cable, which links Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, to Fortaleza on Brazil’s northeast coast. From Fortaleza, the network connects to the existing EllaLink cable system, which stretches all the way to Sines, Portugal. Launched in 2021, EllaLink already provides a direct high-capacity digital connection between South America and Europe, eliminating the need for data routing through North American network hubs. For Telesur, the new partnership aligns directly with Suriname’s national digital strategy, which prioritizes upgrading and expanding the country’s digital infrastructure to support long-term economic and social development. By adding the Lum@Link route alongside Suriname’s existing single international connection, the country will gain critical network redundancy, significantly reducing the risk of total international internet outage if the primary connection experiences disruptions. This redundancy will translate to higher overall network reliability and expanded international capacity to support growing demand from all user groups. Beyond the Lum@Link partnership, Telesur is already advancing long-term plans to develop its own direct branch of the EllaLink international fiber-optic network that would run to Suriname. If completed, this project would grant Suriname a fully direct independent connection to the global submarine cable network, removing the intermediate routing through neighboring territories. As part of the preliminary MoU, SPLANG has already reserved international capacity on the segments between Cayenne and Fortaleza, as well as between Cayenne and Sines, contingent on the finalization of formal binding agreements between the two firms. Additionally, the deal names Telesur as SPLANG’s preferred partner for wholesale connectivity services across the Suriname market, cementing a long-term strategic collaboration between the two telecommunications entities.
Suriname dicht bij tweede internationale glasvezelverbinding via Frans-Guyana
