CANBERRA—Greater use of 3G mobile technology is set to boost economic output by billions of dollars over the next few years, a leading economic forecaster says.
Rising mobile data traffic flowing from the increasing uptake of 3G mobile telecommunications will contribute an additional $2.1 billion to economic output in 2010, Access Economics says.
In a report released today in Canberra, Access Economics said the mobile telecommunications industry played a key role in the economy because of the ability for new technology to drive productivity across all sectors.
"The economic benefits created by the industry are far greater than the resources it draws from the economy," the report said.
"This contrasts with many other industries, for which the major component of economic contribution derives from the industry's own usage of economic resources.
"In this regard, the mobile phone industry is shown to be punching above its weight."
The report, commissioned by the Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association (AMTA), found that the direct contribution of mobile telecommunications to the economy in 2006-07 was $6.5 billion, or 0.62 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
This was an increase of four per cent compared to 2005-06.
The indirect or flow-on benefit of mobile telecommunications to the broader Australian economy was $7.7 billion, the report said.
"Combining the direct and indirect contributions, the mobile telecommunications industry contributed $14.2 billion to the Australian economy."
"This means that the total GDP in Australia would have been $14.2 billion lower if mobile telecommunications did not exist."
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who released the report at an AMTA event in Canberra today, said it was staggering to consider the impact that mobile communications technologies were having on Australian society.
"The research indicates that the recent phenomenal growth in mobile phone subscriptions and data services has resulted in enormous productivity gains," Senator Conroy said.
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