Deonarine Gopaul

CEO of Digicel Guyana

Connecting Communities, Powering Growth

Deonarine Gopaul, CEO, Digicel Guyana, outlines how a liberalized telecom market, rapid infrastructure investment and a booming economy are driving nationwide digital transformation and investor interest.

“Guyana’s terrain and booming economy make it a unique market; reaching hinterland villages requires creativity, and the oil and gas sector’s demand pushes us to innovate more rapidly than other Caribbean markets.”

Deonarine Gopaul

    • How has Digicel Guyana grown since entering the market, and how is it adapting to the new demands of the oil-driven economy?

      We entered Guyana in 2007 and broke the monopoly. Since then, we have grown our mobile network to cover more than 95% of the population. We have invested heavily in infrastructure and customer service. Over time, we launched 4G, rolled out fiber under our Digital Plus program and added cloud, cybersecurity and managed services through our enterprise arm. We are currently expanding fiber and long-term evolution (LTE) networks in key growth areas, especially industrial zones and new housing developments. Digital Plus is scaling up for both residential and enterprise customers, including oil and gas players. At the same time, we are continuing our rural connectivity programs and digital literacy efforts.

      We have rolled out LTE to 86% of the population, with a target to reach 96% by the end of 2025 through tens of millions in network upgrades. In mid-2024, we went live on the Deep Blue One subsea cable that links Guyana with Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and French Guiana, adding 30 terabits per second of capacity. Onshore, we are extending fiber beyond Georgetown. We are also building the LTE foundation for 5G. While device uptake will determine timing, the roadmap is ready.

      With the oil and gas boom in full swing, we are now focused on scaling to meet new demand and drive digital transformation. Sectors such as oil and gas, logistics and government for enterprise services require secure and reliable networks, cloud hosting, cybersecurity, Internet of Things solutions and dedicated fiber links. We have expanded our enterprise portfolio to offer managed networks, data centers and end-to-end digital business services. Digicel’s regional footprint gives us bulk-buying power, shared expertise and group partnerships. This scale lets us bring advanced solutions to Guyana faster than any standalone operator.

      Digicel has gone from providing voice and short message services to providing smartphones, apps and enterprise solutions. We are now a full digital services provider. My current top five priorities are scaling network capacity, enhancing digital business offerings, improving operational agility, fostering innovation and ensuring inclusive growth across all communities.

    • The liberalization of the market in 2020 was a game-changer. It opened the door to real competition and allowed us to invest aggressively in LTE, fiber and digital services. Overall service quality and customer choice have improved noticeably under the new framework. We currently need transparent and fair-spectrum allocation, faster permitting for new sites and targeted incentives such as tax breaks or subsidies for rural connectivity and digital inclusion projects.

    • Guyana’s terrain and booming economy make it a unique market; reaching hinterland villages requires creativity, and the oil and gas sector’s demand pushes us to innovate more rapidly than other Caribbean markets. I expect near-universal fiber and mobile broadband – with data as the backbone of every service – in the next five years. Digicel will be the main driving force behind this transformation through our efforts in expanding fiber, deepening LTE and preparing for 5G. We aim to create a fully connected and digitally empowered Guyana.

      Guyana is one of the region’s hottest emerging markets. There is strong demand for cloud, cybersecurity and e-government services and more. The ecosystem is open, and the appetite for innovation is high. While strong, the sector still has room to grow. Liberalization has driven competition and consumer benefits. However, as the economy booms, navigating complexity will be key – and this challenge excites me. I look forward to helping shape a fully connected, digitally empowered nation. Digicel welcomes partners to help build the country’s digital future.