IT spending to be triple the global rate
Thai spending on information technology (IT) next year is expected to grow 17 per cent, nearly three times the global growth rate of just 6.6 per cent, says US-based IT market-intelligence firm International Data (IDC).
IDC Thailand country manager Jeffrey Saeung said IT spending in Thailand, including on hardware, software and services, was expected to reach US$4.38 billion (Bt157 billion) next year, up from this year's $3.46 billion. Service spending is expected take the lead again next year with growth of 24 per cent, while hardware spending should grow 15.4 per cent and software 11 per cent. In the service segment, training and education will play a key role as the driving force, with expected growth of 30 per cent year on year. In the hardware segment, the soaring popularity of smart handheld devices (SHDs) should register 20-per-cent growth, which will be crucial to driving not only hardware spending next year, but also the country's overall IT spending. "Smart handheld devices will grow rapidly next year, as prices will come down to an attractive level, drawing more demand from both business and consumer users," said Saeung. Shipments of smart handheld devices into Thailand this year reached 1.68 million units, a growth rate of 28.2 per cent. Of these, 90.9 per cent were voice-centric, 8 per cent data-centric and 1.1 per cent pen-based. The greatest growth rate among the SHDs was for data-centric models, 55.7 per cent, reaching 135,426 units. This growth rate is expected to ease to 26 per cent next year. Voice-centric SHDs were next, with 27-per-cent growth this year, reaching 1.54 million units.
Asina Pornwasin The Nation
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