There are weekly or more frequent airline connections to Lusaka from London, Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Harare, Johannesburg, Lilongwe, Nairobi and Windhoek among other cities. The railway system is rundown and undergoing restructuring. Passenger train travel is unreliable and can be uncomfortable. There are numerous private city bus lines, but they are overcrowded and often unsafe. Road transportation is the preferred means of transport for many goods.
Telecommunications are generally adequate but can be unreliable, especially during the rainy season.
Cellular service is currently offered in Lusaka, Copperbelt towns, and some towns along the line of rail. International telephone calls are expensive, about 8 U.S. dollars per 3 minute to the U.S., including tax. Fax machines are widely used in Zambia. The Internet is also becoming a popular communications tool. Good quality housing is available but generally in short supply, particularly for rental housing.