Broadband Beats Mobile Phones in Boosting GDP
For every 10 percentage points increase in broadband penetration, there is an incremental increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points. This compares to the 0.8 percent increase for mobile phones. I would not have expected such a great differential – almost a 2x greater GDP boost via broadband than mobiles,
Yet, because of the greater reach and density of mobile phone usage – more mobiles than light bulbs in Uganda – they have a larger aggregate effect than broadband, for now. Soon though, we should see the new broadband connections in East Africa competing with mobile phones in penetration and usage.
http://www.ictworks.org/news/2009/10/04/broadband-beats-mobile-phones-boosting-gdp
See also the full report Information and Communications for Development 2009