Upgrade from 3G to 4G technologies will provide significant opportunity for job growth in 2012

MILWAUKEE — A new economic study released yesterday by the New Policy Institute projects that an upgrade from 3G to 4G wireless technology is projected to create more than 231,000 new American jobs within a 12-month period.

“Significant job growth occurred during the four-year transition from 2G to 3G networks, and the same type of growth is expected as Wisconsin, and the United States as a whole, moves to 4G technologies,” says Thad Nation, executive director of Wired Wisconsin.

According to the authors of the study, “The Employment Effects of Advances in Internet and Wireless Infrastructure: Evaluating the Transitions from 2G to 3G and from 3G to 4G,” the technological advances in the build out from 2G technology to 3G technology lead directly to the creation of more than 1.5 million jobs, which occurred during a period when overall private-sector employment declined by 5.3-million jobs. The similar yet more rapid transition from 3G to 4G is expected to create similar employment opportunities in the sector.

“Additionally, we also know that there are a number of broader economic benefits beyond what is found within the telecom industry,” says Nation. “Deploying next generation broadband capacities opens up new opportunities for employment in businesses who are taking advantage of the access; provides avenues for innovation through the development of new applications, products and services; and helps connect job seekers with employers.”

Other benefits, such as improved access to cloud-based services, educational access and telemedicine services improve with each successive generation of broadband development, according to the study.

“Deployment of 4G provides a solid foundation that will drive economic activity in Wisconsin and throughout the country,” says Nation. “This progress is always important, but even more so in times of economic distress. We should encourage the rapid deployment of 4G in Wisconsin as a means to drive growth and opportunity in 2012.”

The full study can be accessed here.