The global telecom services market will continue to be the largest IT spending market in 2013 according to Gartner as it unveils its latest quarterly IT spending report.
Analysts for the technology research group predict that growth will be predominately flat over the next several years with revenue from mobile data services compensating for the declines in total spending for both the fixed and mobile voice services markets.
By 2016, Gartner forecasts that mobile data will represent 33% of the total telecom services market, up from 22% in 2012.
This data comes against a backdrop of predictions that total worldwide IT spend is expected to reach $3.7 trillion (€2.8 trillion) in 2013, a 4.2% increase from 2012 spending.
"Uncertainties surrounding prospects for an upturn in global economic growth are the major retardants to IT growth," said Richard Gordon, managing vice president at Gartner. "This uncertainty has caused the pessimistic business and consumer sentiment throughout the world. However, much of this uncertainty is nearing resolution, and as it does, we look for accelerated spending growth in 2013 compared to 2012."