A new report released today by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reveals the Canadian wireless sector generated an overall economic benefit of $50.2 billion in 2011, an increase of 16.7% from the $43 billion in 2010. The Benefit of the Wireless Telecommunications Industry to the Canadian Economy study, conducted by Nordicity, concludes that the Canadian wireless sector's economic benefit has increased dramatically, as Canadians' adoption of smartphones, tablets and mobile data services and applications has also increased at a rapid pace.
"The wireless sector continues to yield significant economic benefits on both the supply-side and the demand-side," said Nordicity Partner Stuart Jack. "The supply-side impacts include the GDP and employment attributable to economic activity within the wireless sector. The demand-side impacts include the consumer surplus generated by the competitive pricing and innovative services available to Canadians."
Key Findings:
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The Canadian wireless industry generated an overall economic benefit of $50.2 billion in 2011, when direct and multiplier effects associated with the industry's GDP ($38.7 billion) are combined with the consumer surplus generated by wireless voice and data services ($11.5 billion).
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The Canadian wireless industry generated $20.7 billion in direct GDP in 2011. Direct GDP was up by 15% from $18 billion in 2010. Most of this increase was associated with Canadians' increasing use of smartphones and wireless data services.
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Out of the wireless industry's direct GDP of $20.7 billion, $13.4 billion, or 64%, was retained in Canada.
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Canada's wireless industry supported 280,000 jobs in 2011, including direct, support-staff and indirect employment. The inclusion of induced impact employment brought the wireless industry's total employment impact to 308,000.
- Canadian wireless network operators made capital investment totalling $2.6 billion in 2011.
"With more than 90% of Canadians aged 15 and over now using a wireless device, we are connected like never before," said Bernard Lord, CWTA President & CEO. "Not only has wireless become essential to the lives of Canadians, it has also become a critical component of our economic prosperity."
