By Howard Baldwin, Contributing Columnist
Last June, the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, a joint project of the International Telecommunications Union and UNESCO, issued a report about the impact of broadband globally. It contained enlightening estimates — variations of which we’ve discussed frequently — about the value of broadband for business. For instance:
- Europe: Broadband can create more than two million jobs and an increase in GDP of at least €636 billion by 2015
- Brazil: Broadband has already added up to 1.4% to the employment growth rate
- China: Every 10% increase in broadband penetration contributes an additional 2.5% to
- GDP growth
- Thailand: Even though only some 3% of households and 12% of individuals had broadband, broadband promotion could add 2.4% to the country’s GDP growth rate.
Tags: broadband, digital economy, economic development, GDP, macroeconomics, UN
