In recent years, the connection between economic growth and the take-up and use of broadband has been used to justify significant government intervention and public expenditure in broadband networks. In the United States, stimulus funding has been committed for broadband planning and deployment initiatives. In Australia, the expectation of significant economic benefit has been used to justify government investment in the deployment of a high-speed fibre National Broadband Network (NBN). The importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs), which includes broadband networks and infrastructure, to a nation's economic wellbeing is well understood and is documented by a growing body of literature. This paper reviews this growing body of literature and analyses the connection between ICTs, which includes broadband networks and infrastructure, and economic growth. It then focuses on the relevant Australian literature and critically examines the reported connection between the take-up and use of broadband services and Australia's productivity growth and economic development. This paper also highlights some of the strengths and the shortcomings of the literature and explores what these shortcomings may mean for Australian policy makers.