Calls simply don't go through or all lines are engaged. For example in Zambia users often switch off graphics when using the web and lines cut out with alarming frequency. To get over the high access rates in Kenya a higher education consortium has negotiated a package of lower rates with the national telco. In Kenya the regulatory function has recently been separated out from the national telco and a number of mobile franchises offered, several covering rural area. Given the costs of PCs, it is not hard to imagine that the next generation of mobile phones with e-mail and internet access will be very popular.
Corruption is an issue.
It was reported in the Zambian press that the last Nigerian military dictator has salted away 650 million US dollars in a Swiss bank account. In the countries visited, I did not experience the street-level corruption reported in places like Zaire but was told frequently of backhanders paid when Government contracts were let. Since the development of the infrastructure of this new media economy will frequently involve national telcos controlled by politicians, this will remain an issue. Large parts of the economy function almost exlusively on barter or cash and credit is not widely available to individuals. E-commerce will take off with those companies that already have in place reliable fulfillment sytems.