Barriers to electronic mail systems in developing countries

Proponents of electronic mail systems (EMS) claim that they increase the productivity and efficiency of operations. Their use has mushroomed in the last five years in industrialized nations. The use of such systems in less developed countries is, however, practically nonexistent. This paper examines the barriers to their use in those countries. These barriers are divided into four categories: technical, economic, political, and social. Some strategies for dealing with those barriers are also presented.