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Go for gigabit? First evidence on economic benefits of (ultra-)fast broadband technologies in Europe

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  • Briglauer, Wolfgang
  • Gugler, Klaus

Abstract

The literature on the effects of telecommunications infrastructure investments find positive macroeconomic effects, however, it is severely constrained because it could hitherto only analyze investment up to "basic" broadband but not up to the newer generations of "fast" and "ultra-fast" broadband; in particular there is no such evidence available at the EU level so far. Utilizing a comprehensive panel dataset of EU27 member states for the period from 2003-2015, we estimate a small but significant effect of fiber-based ultra-fast broadband over and above the effects of basic broadband on GDP. Adoption of hybrid-fiber fast broadband is incrementally to basic broadband insignificant. Our cost-benefit analysis implies that policy intervention - as foreseen by the European Commission in its public policy targets - is only justified for coverage and adoption levels of around 50% of fast or ultra-fast broadband, whereas for 100% coverage levels we find net losses to society. Thus, it appears that - for the time being and according to the policy principle of "technological neutrality" - a combination of basic broadband, fast and ultra-fast broadband entails the largest economic net benefits to society.

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  • Briglauer, Wolfgang & Gugler, Klaus, 2018. "Go for gigabit? First evidence on economic benefits of (ultra-)fast broadband technologies in Europe," ZEW Discussion Papers 18-020, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:18020
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    Cited by:

    1. Bofinger, Peter & Feld, Lars P. & Schmidt, Christoph M. & Schnabel, Isabel & Wieland, Volker, 2018. "Vor wichtigen wirtschaftspolitischen Weichenstellungen. Jahresgutachten 2018/19 [Setting the Right Course for Economic Policy. Annual Report 2018/19]," Annual Economic Reports / Jahresgutachten, German Council of Economic Experts / Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung, volume 127, number 201819.
    2. Vogelsang, Ingo, 2019. "Has Europe missed the endgame of telecommunications policy?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 1-10.
    3. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Stocker, Volker & Whalley, Jason, 2018. "Public Policy Targets in EU Broadband Markets: The Role of Technological Neutrality," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184936, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    4. Falk, Martin & Hagsten, Eva, 2021. "Impact of high-speed broadband access on local establishment dynamics," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).
    5. Roberto Gallardo & Brian Whitacre & Indraneel Kumar & Sreedhar Upendram, 2021. "Broadband metrics and job productivity: a look at county-level data," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(1), pages 161-184, February.
    6. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Schwarzbauer, Wolfgang & Thomas, Tobias, 2018. "Breitbandziele effizient erreichen!," Policy Notes 27, EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research.
    7. Abrardi, Laura & Cambini, Carlo, 2019. "Ultra-fast broadband investment and adoption: A survey," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 183-198.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    new broadband networks; broadband speed; economic growth; EU-panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications

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