The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), the industry group which represents the country’s wireless sector, recently commissioned consulting firm Nordicity to research how our telcos benefit Canada’s economy.
The report’s key findings, according to the CWTA, “shows the significant positive economic impact the industry makes when it comes to GDP, jobs and capital investment,” with year-over-year growth.
Specifically, the CWTA says “in 2017, Canada’s wireless industry contributed $27.5 billion to the Canadian GDP, an increase of 9.1% from $25.21 billion 2016.”
When it comes to jobs, the wireless sector had 151,550 full-time equivalents (FTE) jobs in 2017, an increase of 9.8% over 2016.
As for capital investments, Canadian wireless operators had spending totalling $2.92 billion in 2017, an increase of 13.2% compared to 2016.
“The Nordicity report highlights the critical contribution our industry makes to the Canadian economy,” said Robert Ghiz, President & CEO of CWTA, in a statement.
Nordicity Partner Stuart Jack said, “Our report shows that Canada’s wireless sector contribution to the Canadian GDP continues to increase and is a key growth enabler of the overall Canadian ICT sector.”
In a nutshell, the Canadian wireless industry says a report they commissioned to a third party, has concluded the Canadian wireless industry is very important in Canada.
The positive findings from the CWTA come amid the federal Liberal government and NDP targeting telcos for cheaper wireless plans, in what can be seen as a play for populist votes, ahead of this fall’s national election in October.
