The Relationship between ICT and Economic Growth: Evidence from Ethiopia

This study examines the relationship between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Economic Growth: Evidence from Ethiopia between the year 1983 and 2021. Auto regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) has been utilized to quantify the impact of telecommunication factors on economic growth following stationarity and co-integration tests. The primary conclusions of the model confirmed that fixed line telephone and internet have beneficial effects over the long term, but mobile telephone had a negative impact on GDP growth rate because of working people who use mobile phones run the risk of developing addiction and social isolation. Additionally, the results of the short run error correction model demonstrate a favorable impact of fixed lines and the internet on growth. While mobile telephone has negatively affect GDP growth. Telecommunications can play a vital role as a mean for economic growth especially by increase telecommunications use through increasing the number of internet users to boost economic growth. Finally, for increased competitiveness and citizen service delivery, the Ethiopian government should focus on the broadband network's accessibility, dependability, quality of service, security, and affordability