The economic impact of disruptions to Internet connectivity:

The Internet has become ingrained into the tasks that people across the world perform each day. From obtaining information on markets or health, to making mobile payments, the Internet has made each task that much easier. At the same time, disruptions to Internet-based services and infrastructure have become more common. These disruptions have widespread impacts on people and the economy with even partial disturbances affecting productivity, souring business confidence, and leading to lost opportunities.

The impacts of a temporary shutdown of the Internet grow larger as a country develops and as a more mature online ecosystem emerges. It is estimated that for a highly Internet connected country, the per day impact of a temporary shutdown of the Internet and all of its services would be on average $23.6 million per 10 million population. With lower levels of Internet access, the average estimated GDP impacts amount to $6.6 million and to $0.6 million per 10 million population for medium and low Internet connectivity economies, respectively.

As the Internet is adopted more widely and used more intensely across countries, Internet services become crucial for businesses and people. Overall, the estimates produced in this study and the evidence available in the public domain suggest that disruptions to Internet ecosystems can have economic consequences, and ultimately costs for a country’s population. If disruptions become more frequent and longer-term in nature, the impacts are likely to be magnified. Learn more about the widespread impact disruptions are having on productivity and the worldwide economy in this report.