ICT Market Segmentation

One of the main features of Globalisation is the networked economy. The characteristics of this networked economy are the shift from the physical products and services to digital ones and the technology convergence (telecom, IT, media) that plays a key role in the transformation of the way business is conducted worldwide. The convergence also necessitates the provision of integrated services solutions instead of distinct technological components.

Greek ICT Market

The Internet / Networked Economy involves: ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Infrastructure, Content creation, and new business and commercial processes. The ICT infrastructure market is the one that INTRACOM addresses.

The Networked Economy Evolution

Naturally, not all the areas in the world are developed the same. The time distance in networked economy development between US and Western Europe is estimated to 2 - 3 years, while between Western and South-Eastern Europe is estimated to 6-8 years; these estimates are taking into account the technological progress in the EU and the gradual modernisation of South-Eastern Europe's network.

Greek Telecom Market Size

TThe Greek telecom market turnover is estimated to 10 billion EUROS in 2004. The main drive in the Greek telecom market for the last years is the services and mobile telephony, while the introduction of full competition in voice telephony as of 1 January 2001 is boosting further the telecom market. This growth of telecom sector in Greece will be continued in the coming years putting emphasis on the upgrade of the infrastructure towards 3G and Next Generation Networks, where IP protocol is the main enabler.

South Eastern Europe's ICT Market

While this has been the case in Greece, in other South Eastern European countries the ICT sector growth has been slower than in the EU. This is partly because of the low GDP, as well as the scarcity of infrastructure and the outdated communications network in some countries. Nonetheless, this region has a large addressable market, and the gradual transformation to the networked economy offers opportunities for significant investments in the ICT sector. In the upcoming years it is foreseen that major investments will be done on ICT by most SEE countries, especially on Bulgaria, Romania an Turkey which are EU applicant member states and will pursue the harmonization of their infrastructure with that of the average EU.