Fewer nodes are found in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Countries often first build internal networks and then establish an international gateway. Poland's cyberspace development began in 1990 and the country now has 6 working nodes addressable from the European EARN network. The only node in Namibia currently connects to South Africa. The cost of network access to U.S. users is often negligibly small, but in other countries user costs for the same networks are often prohibitive because of high telephone charges and expenses of local maintenance.
Networks are excellent for transmitting data and files.
Organizations usually prefer the convenience and simplicity of fax for short documents, even if it costs them more than using networks. Most people want the networks and systems to provide world, business, and professional news, and needed technical information. If all people can do is send messages to each other via email, you will have a hard time getting off the ground. It is actually quite surprising how little people have to say to each other, outside the context of close colleagues separated by distance. NSFNet provides high speed transmission of scientific data among U.S. research centers.