This study examined the extent to which e-mail and Internet access is available within universities in developing countries in the British Commonwealth. Data were gathered using a survey of 300 institutions in developing Commonwealth countries, and responses by 112 institutions in 19 countries were evaluated. The study concluded that a major gulf exists between developed and developing countries in communications technologies, and that a significant injection of funds will be needed if this is to be bridged. Overall, the study found Internet access has been achieved, at some level, in about a quarter of accredited university-level institutions, while e-mail access has reached about 45 percent of institutions. Generally, Internet access is more widespread in Asia, the Caribbean, and the Asian-Pacific region than in Africa. The majority of higher education institutions surveyed had achieved connectivity only within the last three years. More than 50 percent of respondents relied on analogue dial-up access via a modem, and almost half the institutions relied on common terminals (in some cases, only one) to provide Internet and e-mail for the whole university community. Appendices include the questionnaire used, a list of World Wide Web addresses, and a list of e-mail addresses. (Contains 23 references.) (DB)