Access to Internet and AOL in Honduras

Introduction -

Connecting to the Internet is not only possible, but available throughout Honduras. A number of providers have begun service since January of 1996 including the Hondutel, the countries telephone company. Originally only offering email they now all, for the most part, offer the Web and full connectivity. In April of 1996 the only area that did not seem covered was accessing Usenet Newsgroups. This should be expected to be added soon.

Connecting with AOL -

Here are the actual experiences of a woman in Guatemala .

She connects to the US direct without an international operator.

She programs her AOL software to dial 001, adds the access number in the United States. For example this might be used 00,1,408-286-6340 Check what the first three numbers you will need to use in Honduras, in Guatemala it is 001.

She reports she has a few problems connecting with noisy phone lines and “packet buffer overload” whatever that is. Disconnecting is a common problem and it can be somethimes frustrating. She uses it to send and receive e-mail.

At present it seems that calling cards such as ATT and MCI cannot be used, it will be necessary for charges to be made to the local phone.

(Thanks for the above information given by Nancy Bailey , who works with orphans in Guatemala and resides in Antigua, Guatemala)

In early 1996 AOL put in an access line in Costa Rica, but charges a surcharge for it's use. At present I am unaware of any for Honduras.

Connecting with the Internet

INTERNET IN HONDURAS

Two things are presently happening: one is the country's telephone system Hondutel has offered it to universities and educational institutions. When it is started it was limited to academic traffic. The availability to private business and individuals has been offered since February 1996. Honduras is one of the last of the Central American countries to be connected and it is long forthcoming. On the plus side, however, now that it is availabe the systems are better than all neighboring countries except Costa Rica.

The second thing that is happening is that a private organization called HonduNet is full internet connections. Their telephone is 36-8275 ex. 63, or fax 36-6720. A credit card, Visa or MasterCard is required, yearly fee of $50 which includes software and a $6 per hour usage are the expected charges. PC, Mac and Inix are connectable. They also charge a per character charge for both incoming and outgoing email.

There are some private internet links in Honduras, none of which has gained much popularity, largely because of the cost involved.

One is Fundacion Accesso which a Nicaraguan link, NICARAO, and is a political information base.

The United Nations has a system called Sustainable Development Networking Program for both governmental or non-governmental organizations. Information may be obtained from Francisco Salinas at 31-0216. A fourth system is called Tips Empresario is set up for Honduran businesses. There is a $250 annual fee and 7 cents a minute for on-line usage.

MCI also has connections, here is a direct quote from an MCI representative: "With the e-mail that is part of the networkMCI package, you can have access to receive e-mail messages in other countries. The purchase price for the package is a one-time registration fee of $100.00 and then $50.00 a month. The package includes InfoMCI, E-mailMCI, ConferenceMCI, FaxMCI, MarketplaceMCI, InternetMCI, and/ or Desktop Video. If this too much for what you are looking for, then contact our MCI Mail department that only handles e-mail. Their rates we don't know.

Please contact us at 1-800-955-6505 for further questions or inquiries. We are open 24 hours for your convenience."

It is possible to connect with the Internet in Honduras through Compuserve or Delphi. Both have online services available. First, you will need to get an account with Teledatos, the public network operator, from there, you can then connect to any of these services. Delphi offers more access to the internet than Compuserve (they are just installing FTP in an experimental way). Delphi offers, Gopher, WWW, WAIS. FTP and access to UseNet News.

ExpreSo

ExpreSo appears to be a good connection, they have unlimited e-mail service. Installation 400 Lps. and monthly charge of 300 Lps. No per minute or per character charges, you only pay for the local phone service. Call in Tegucigalpa 38-6659, “a service of Mundo Digital in Honduras with ExpreSo.”

I was also given the name and phone number for Andres Thomas-Conteris at 32-8223. He may also be connected with ExpreSo, but I have not verified this number.

Local access numbers throughout Honduras are available. From these you are connected with the server in Costa Rica. Originally they would forward email messages several times a day and only recently in March of 1996 began real time message forwarding.

Hondutel

The nation's telephone system made a big announcement at the end of December 1995 that internet connectivity is now available. June, 1996 Hondutel connections are reporting excellent service.

Internet is available to the public in Teguz. Call Reynaldo Zelaya in Teguz at 39-5411 and 31-0127, cost is $30.00 for 15 hours. I do not know about the setup fee. The local modems are supposed to work in SPS on 1st of Feb. Maybe..... In San Pedro call Claudia Fernandez at 53-3885. (1/15/96)

From: jrfalck@simon.intertel.hn (Juan R. Falck)

Date: February 15, 1996

El motivo de este mensaje es para informarles sobre la compa–ia que tengo el honor de dirjir...Intertel. S.A. actualmente Intertel es la unica compa–ia de Internet en San Pedro Sula que esta prestando el servicio, por lo que les agradeceria mucho nos hicieran sugerencias sobre nuestro homepage: http://www.intertel.hn. Actualmente estamos trabajando con varios clientes para ir mejorando la informacion que ahi aparece, mas que todo la pagina es un trampolin para nuestros usuarios a Internet. Tenemos ya casi un mes de estar en linea y ya hemos recibido bastantes hits de bastantes partes del mundo.

Nuestros servicios de acceso comienza desde US$20 y hacemos trabajos de publicacion para homepages de diferentes clientes. Cualquier mensaje me lo pueden hacer llegar a:

jrfalck@simon.intertel.hn

nuestros telefonos son:

56 - 1740

56 - 1760

lineas de acceso: 56 -1860

Contamos con dos enrutadores para backup y tenemos un maximo de 32

lineas de servcio a 28.8.

********************************************************

Return-Path: Zasnet@sie.expreso.co.cr

From: Zasnet@sie.expreso.co.cr

Subject: Informacion Importante Sobre ExpreSo

A: Usuario/as de ExpreSo en Honduras

De: Andres Thomas Conteris,

Promotor de ExpreSo en Honduras

Clivia Meza, Coordinadora Zas-Net

Fecha: 22 de febrero, 1996

Asun: Cambios en ExpreSo

Gracias por escoger ExpreSo. Esperamos que podemos brindar el mejor acceso al Internet en Honduras. El presente es para informarles sobre unos cambios. La nueva division de Ediciones Zas, Zas-Net esta trabajando para promover ExpreSo en Honduras y facilitar la cancelacion de sus cuentas.

Favor dirigir cualquiera pregunta que tenga al telefono: 38-6659 o 37 7668.

Tambien puede escribirnos a la cuenta:

zasnet (acceso dentro de ExpreSo) o tambien,

zasnet@expreso.co.cr (acceso desde el Internet).

HONDUPAQ

Hondutel cambio el modo de accesar el servidor de ExpreSo en Costa Rica.

Antes se llamaba Teledatos, y ahora se llama HONDUPAQ. Este cambio ocurrio el 1 de febrero, 1996, y Hondutel empezo a cobrar mas que 600% de lo que cobraban antes.

Con estos nuevos costos, y tambien el acceso directo al Internet (que implica nuevos gastos), hemos re-estructurado las tarifas de ExpreSo.

Para muchas personas, estos cambios significan una rebaja en terminos de los precios que se estaban cobrando.

ACCESO NACIONAL

Actualmente, ExpreSo es el unico sistema en Honduras que ofrece acceso al internet con llamadas locales en las ciudades importantes en el pais, sin la necesidad de tener una cuenta privada de HONDUPAQ. Las velocidades de

acceso son de 14,400.

Tegucigalpa 35-9055

San Pedro Sula: 57-8898

La Ceiba: 43-2600

y muy pronto

El Progreso: 66-4801

Otras ciudades donde HONDUPAQ sera accesible en el futuro:

Comayagua, Danli, Choluteca, Puerto Cortes, La Lima, Roatan, y Choloma.

NUEVAS TARIFAS y SERVICIOS

Usted puede escoger el tipo de servicio que quiere y pagara la tarifa correspondiente. Las cuentas de E-Mail ofrecen correo electronico al INTERNET en tiempo real y acceso a las bibliotecas de ExpreSo. Las cuentas de INTERNET ofrecen: Correo Electronico, Telnet, FTP, Finger, Gopher,

World Wide Web, y mas.

TRIMESTRAL

Plan A

Internet $15.00/mes ($45/trimestre) 0 horas $2.70 la hora

Plan B

E-Mail $10.00/mes ($30/trimestre) 0 horas " " "

Plan C

Internet $28.00/mes 15 horas/mes ($84/trimestre) $2.70 hora adicional

Plan D

E-Mail $23.00/mes 15 horas/mes ($69/trimestre) " " " "

MENSUAL

Plan E

Internet $18.00 0 horas $2.70 la hora

Plan F

E-Mail $13.00 0 horas " " "

Plan G

Internet $30.00 15 horas $2.70 hora adicional

Plan H

E-Mail $25.00 15 horas " " " " "

Con estos precios, se ofrece el servicio mas economico que puede encontrar en otras redes comerciales. Favor notificarnos que plan quieren escoger.

Este nuevo sistema tarifario sera implementado el 1 de marzo, 1996. Si deciden tener una cuenta de INTERNET, esas opciones seran ofrecidas en su cuenta. Actualmente estas opciones estan bloqueadas en las cuentas que no han escogido esa opcion.

Hondutel nos ha informado que estan resolviendo unos problemas que han tenido con HONDUPAQ. Se espera que muy pronto se puede mandar y recibir archivos binarios. Por el momento solo se puede hacer "upload" y "download" con el protocolo ASCII.

CAPACITACION y NUEVO SOFTWARE

Si usted desea mas capacitacion para aprovechar el mundo de INTERNET, favor contactar la oficina de Zas-Net. Se ofrece asistencia tecnica gratuitamente junto con una capacitacion basica.

Si desean una capacitacion amplia con software que permite hacer la mayoria de su trabajo fuera de linea (World Group Manager) favor contactarnos. Con esta manera de accesar su cuenta, puede ahorrar mucho tiempo y dinero.

Esperamos sus respuestas a estos nuevos cambios.

From Downie Pate, La Ceiba, >Dcp@sie.expreso.co.cr<

The Expreso E-Mail Service also has full Internet Service now. The sign-up fee is L200 & it is L210/mo. plus L0.30/min. Connect. I deposited L1177 which is L200 sign up fee + L300 for approx. 3 mos. fees + 7% sales tax in their local bank account.

2/26/96

Just got the new rates for the Expreso here. $28/mo.for full Internet payable quarterly, $25/mo. E-Mail only. Both of which have 17 hours/mo connect time with $2.70/ hr. additional.

Global net of Honduras, S.A.

A new company is offering internet in San Pedro, it is called Global net of Honduras, S.A. They have a server at the Hondutel office in San Pedro and the owner, Oscar Flores, just finished computer school in the U.S. He is very capable with computers. I assume their internet address is Globalnet@hn but I am not sure. I have an address with them which is mayaeco@globalnet.hn They offer first month free, 10 hours for 20. us and extra hours at 2.25 and for 35.00 20 hours and extra at 1.75 and for 40.00 25 hours and 1.50 for extra. He has 85 users now and told me that when he gets 150 hopes to provide unlimted service for about 40.00

It is real internet with all the trimmings. Their phone number is

56-1784 and fax is 56-2515.

(Inforamtion thanks to Javier Pinel - 4/21/96)

SIGANet de Honduras

SIGAnet le brinda todos los servicios de una conexion a Internet y otros mas que la hacen el ISP hondure–o con el mejor valor agregado, el usuario cuenta desde hoy con un soporte extra para sus accesos a Internet. Ademas brindamos los servicios de interconectividad remota, seleccionando, disenando y manteniendo Sistemas y Equipos de Comunicacion.

SIGA Computaci—n

Telefono: (504) 36-9470

Fax: (504) 36-9471

Correo Electronico webmaster@hondudata.hn

Internet providers in Honduras:

Honduras Service Provider

Digital Information Systems & Networking

Col. Florencia Sur #3752, Boulevard a Suyapa

Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., Honduras, C.A.

Llamenos al Tel/Fax 32-1715 o Cont‡ctese a Disnet@Simon.Intertel.hn

GlobalNet -

GBnet anuncia su Servicio de Internet en Honduras, el cual incluye Dial-up, Lineas Dedicadas, Web Hosting, Desarrollo de Contenido y Educacion. Para mas informacion, comun’quese con GBM de Honduras. GBM Corporation, Edificio Sonisa, Colonia San Ignacio, Tegucigalpa. Telephone (504) 32-2309 (voz) / (504) 31-4580 (fax) http://www.gbm.net

Intertel -

International Telecommunications S.A.

Col. Jardines del Valle

Blvd. Principal 7 y 8 Calle, San Pedro Sula

e-mail: jrfalck@simon.intertel.hn

Tel: (504) 56- 1740

Fax: (504) 56-1760 Pbx: 56-1860

SIGA Computacion -

Tegucigalpa

Telefono: (504) 36-9470

Fax: (504) 36-9471

San Pedro Sula

Telefono: (504) 52-7627

Fax: (504) 52-7627

SIGANet es nuestro nuevo servicio de coneccion Internet, se cuenta con todos los componentes de conectividad a la red mundial, para tal efecto hemos configurado un nodo que permita brindar servicios de alto nivel de calidad como el que Usted desea, esto incluye Webserver, Mail Server, Telnet, FTP, etc. Como es de su conocimiento nuestra empresa no solo le da la oportunidad de tener una cuenta de acceso a Internet sino, que adem‡s le brinda todo el soporte necesario en lo relativo a Dise–o, Instalaci—n, Capacitaci—n y Mantenimiento de su servicio.

Hondudata -

Hondudata Su guia completa de acceso a internet, que le proporciona una guia completa al catalogo de URLS, a los directorios de los m‡s populares sitios de acceso, busquedas

avanzadas a los sitios donde se encuentran los Maximos Webs, y enlaces en tiempo real. Hondudata c/o SIGA Computaci—n, Telefono: (504) 36-9470 Fax: (504) 36-9471.

Personal comment: Although Hondutel had a pretty shaky start, it now appears to be one of the best. Email traffic is now dependable and web access is very much improved.

Service from Roatan:

From: honduras@ns.gbm.hn (Steve Hasz)

There is now a public E-mail service on Roatan. They both send and receive messages and will even set up an e-mail account for you using their computers if you don't have your own. They also rent out computers for word processing and game playing. I've used them and they are good.

Here's their contact info:

Waterloo Design and Communications

Kollin Baker and Rebakah Parker

West End, Roatan

Honduras

Fax: 45-1171

Email: waterloo@globalnet.hn

This entire article is a compulation of many sources. Most are quoted just as they were given me. If you have any additional data, or know some of this needs to be removed, please contact me. This has truely been the year of the internet for Honduras.

Revised 7/2/96