Google Australia managing director, Nick Leeder, has a message for the nation: the Internet is already worth big bucks to the economy - $50 billion to be precise. And that's before the government even started digging trenches to house the NBN.

With the global financial crisis (GFC) behind us, the next 12 months is shaping up to be a dynamic period for the world market.

A report that claims a potential boost to GDP of $35-80 billion over 10 years and an additional 70,000 jobs by 2014 through increased spending in smart technology infrastructure has been applauded by Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

IBM Australia managing director, Glen Boreham, has called for greater public education around the benefits of plugging into a digital economy