According to Mike Jensen, who tracks Internet connectivity in Africa, e-mail capability now exists in almost every country in Africa. E-mail is therefore becoming the norm rather than the exception for many organizations. If you need to buy a modem for a desktop computer that you already own, purchase an external modem. They are easier to install and you won't need to take the computer apart if anything goes wrong. Be sure to buy the cable too.
Modems come at different speeds.
A fast modem, with error correcting and data compression support, may reduce your online costs. Although the speed of transfer is limited by the quality of your telephone system, plan on purchasing a modem with a minimum baud rate of 56 bps. You can always adjust your modem's speed downward, but you can't make it go faster than its maximum baud rate. So, no matter whether it's internal or external, ask questions about the modem's capability, and don't let anyone sell you a slow modem on the grounds that African telephone lines can't handle high speeds. If you must purchase a modem separately from your computer, buy a name brand, if at all possible.