Western European IT market to grow 3% in 2004, 4% in 2005

ICT market in Western Europe is expected to grow by 3% in 2004 to EUR 611 bln, according to EITO. In 2005 growth will increase to 4%, bringing total company turnover to EUR 636 bln. With an increase of 3%, the market for information technology and telecommunications in the region is growing significantly faster this year than the Western European economy as a whole, recovering from growth weakness of 0.8% in 2003, and is expected to grow by 2.3% in 2004. Western Europe represents 24.8% of the ICT market worldwide.

Germany has a 6% share of the world and 21.2% of the Western European ICT market, just ahead of the UK, which has a market share of 5.8% worldwide and of 20.5% in Western Europe. Information technology in Western Europe will reach a market volume of EUR 293 bln in 2004, achieving a return to growth, of 2.3%. Next year, the market will grow by a further 4.2%, to EUR 306 bln. With growth of 3.1% in 2004, the UK lies slightly behind Scandinavia (3.6%), and, in 2005, will continue to lead growth (5%), together with the Benelux countries (5.2%).