25/11-03   -   Pressmeddelande

Public Sector Leads Recovery of IT Market, Says IDC

The Nordic IT market is slowly recovering, according to new research from IDC. Though the budget restraints are being lifted in most companies, it is the public sector´s investment in digital citizen services and automated internal processes that will lead the IT market back to positive growth.

Several indicators support IDC’s forecast of a slowly recovering IT market despite difficult market conditions. However, there are significant differences across industries in terms of how much and how quickly the IT investments will pick up.

IDC has just finalized four studies (one for each Nordic country) on IT investments across vertical markets, and finds that the public sector is currently increasing investment in IT, with approximately 4% growth expected this year. The investment from the private sector, on the other hand, will "only" be flat this year and even though growth will return in 2004, the public sector will outgrow the private sector for several years.

The public sector is driven by government incentives for increased automation and Internet-based citizen services. Within the private sector, however, there are also large discrepancies. The financial sector will pick up quite rapidly and continue to do well for several years, while the telecommunications sector will remain slow for about three years before booming. However, even manufacturing, which will grow the least for the next five years, is the single largest sector in absolute terms.

The IDC studies present forecasts for the IT investments by vertical for 2003 to 2007 for hardware, software, and IT services. In addition, the studies provide market shares by vertical.

Denmark IT Opportunity: Vertical Markets (IDC #DK520306K, September 2003)
Sweden IT Opportunity: Vertical Markets (IDC #SE520307K, October 2003)
Norway IT Opportunity: Vertical Markets, (IDC #NO520308K, November 2003)
Finland IT Opportunity: Vertical Markets, (IDC #FI520309K, November 2003)

For more information about these studies, please contact one of the following:
Denmark Susanne Arildsen, +45 39 16 22 43
Norway Åke Lunden, +46 8 751 0415
Sweden Pelle Hallberg, +46 8 751 0415
Finland Pipsa Ylä-Mononen, +358 9 8770 4654
Nordic Pelle Hallberg, +46 8 751 0415



About IDC
IDC is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. We analyze and predict technology trends so that our clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 700 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on our advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organizations.
IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. Additional information can be found at www.idc.com
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