Linux servers key driver of ICT industry growth, says OECD

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 05 October 2006 19:16

IT Industry - Deals

The OECD has issued the latest edition of its biannual Information Technology outlook, saying it expects the industry to  grow by  six percent in 2006 and identifying the main growth drivers as being  Internet-related investments, Linux servers, digital storage, personal digital assistants and new portable consumer products.

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According to the OECD, ICT trade is also growing even faster than production and sales. It found  a shift in manufacturing activities within the OECD area, particularly towards assembly in Mexico and Eastern European. Between 1996 and 2004, total OECD ICT goods trade increased by 6.5 percent a year, while that of Mexico and Eastern European OECD countries increased by 17.4 percent a year.With the emergence of new growth economies in Eastern European and non-OECD developing countries, world ICT spending was up 5.6 percent a year between 2000 and 2005. China was the sixth largest ICT market in 2005 at $US118 billion (after the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and France). After overtaking the United States in 2004 as the world’s leading ICT exporter, China has continued strong ICT exports in 2005 and 2006.
This edition includes analysis of the continuing internationalisation of the IT sector, developments in ICT-enabled international sourcing, with a focus on India, and the growth of the IT industry and Internet in China. Other chapters cover digital content, skills and employment issues, emerging technology applications, such as location-based services, and a review of policy developments and priorities in OECD countries.

The 250 page publication can be browsed on line and purchased in paper or electronic form through the OECD’s Online Bookshop.  It costs $US89.