[Satellite TODAY Insider 06-13-11] Nigeria could generate $5 billion in additional GDP by 2015 if the country’s government supports a rollout plan for mobile broadband services and enacts a policy to release the 2.6GHz spectrum band to providers over urban areas, according to an Analysys Mason report issued June 10.

            “Without proper spectrum allocation in line with internationally harmonized band plans and broader government support, it will not be possible to realize the full potential of mobile broadband,” Analysys Mason Manager Robert Schumann said. “Policy support in Nigeria could help deliver significant advantages to the wider wireless ecosystem and meet the demand from consumers and business.”

            According to the report, Nigeria stands to reap significant rewards if the country’s regulators free-up the digital dividend spectrum to deliver broadband services to rural areas and reduce the current 35 percent tax level for Nigerian mobile operators — a rate that doubles the global average.

            Schumann believes mobile broadband will generate 55 percent annual growth in Nigeria’s online retail industry reaching $289 million in the next five years. “The financial services industry’s benefit from broadband would grow by 95 percent CAGR. The use of the Internet and mobile to deliver social services, including healthcare and education, would generate growth of 70 percent CAGR and the revenue from online corporate services, especially agriculture and utilities, would experience a 55 percent annual growth rate through 2015,” Schumann said in the report.

            Analysys Mason’s assessment of economic impact of wireless broadband in Nigeria also showed that only 6 percent of all Nigerians currently have access to broadband services, and 74 percent of those do so through mobile broadband. “A 73 percent annual increase in the working population with access to mobile broadband, reaching 5.2 million users by 2015 is expected to deliver an additional $901.7 million to the Nigerian economy each year,” the report said.

            Nigeria’s private sector continues to drive domestic mobile broadband growth, but Analysys Mason said $1.22 billion in additional private sector growth may be lost if a supporting policy environment is not created by government regulators.