01
Local traffic
Traffic between connected operators is exchanged in Paramaribo, instead of through a foreign transit provider.
SUR-IX is the neutral point where Surinamese operators exchange traffic directly with each other — without sending it through international transit. Hosted at Datasur, supported by the sector.
Hover an operator
The ITU supported the Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname in an assessment to determine the right model for an internet exchange in Suriname, with input from operators, the regulator, the financial sector, academia, and government.
In October, Telesur, Digicel, Parbonet, Datasur and the other stakeholders signed an agreement to voluntarily become founding members. A provisional board was elected at that meeting.
From 7 to 14 August, the Internet Society configured the exchange. Since 8 August, Telesur, Digicel, Parbonet and Datasur exchange BGP traffic here. The official launch was on 16 August.
The board sets and approves internal procedures and policy with the participation of all members, and is responsible for the legal and technical implementation of the IXP.
An IXP is a neutral switch where networks connect directly to each other. That is the purpose of SUR-IX: keep Surinamese traffic in Suriname.
Traffic between connected operators is exchanged in Paramaribo, instead of through a foreign transit provider.
Less traffic on the international link reduces that cost. The ITU estimated the saving from a local exchange at about 20 percent. That can show up in the price for the end user.
When widely used content is hosted in Suriname — video, websites, DNS — that traffic stays local too. It is faster, and it takes further load off the submarine cable.
If the international connection fails, for example because the submarine cable breaks, the networks on SUR-IX can keep exchanging traffic with each other.
The National Digital Strategy 2023–2030 names SUR-IX as part of Suriname’s digital infrastructure. The ITU and the Internet Society made experts available and contributed to the hardware.
The switches are at Datasur because of guaranteed power, cooling and security. Packet Clearing House is connected with anycast DNS (AS42), including Quad9, and a route collector (AS3856). Technical questions: peering@sur-ix.sr or +597 885 2222. The current participant list is on PeeringDB.
| Role | Name | Representing |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Mr. Jurgen Schmeltz | Datasur |
| Secretary | Mr. Irvin Belfor | Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname |
| Treasurer | Mr. Christian Morpurgo | Rosheuvel & Partners Business Group |
Operator
Operator
Operator
Operator and host