High end modems, such as the 33.6kps Motorola external modem that Rebekah uses, have built in error correction capabilities that allow them to recover from interruptions such as a strong wind. But they are not too forgiving when it comes to dirty lines. Hondutel webbed the island with copper wires, the standard. However, a good modem can compensate for it. But the weakest link is not the copper lines but the radio transmission that delivers them over the sea.
Radio waves have a tendency to loose their quality with distance.
If the source is poor, the transmission will be even worse. Lorenzo Dee Belveal, who owned one of the first resorts in Roatan dismissed the Hondutel channel completely. Already there are digital satellite companies testing Internet connections over air waves. These connections will provide not only very fast Internet connection speeds but also other services such as televised entertainment. A connection to one of these services would eliminate the need for Hondutel's service.