Ovum: IT services to grow at 4.5 percent

The IT services market in Australia and New Zealand was expected to experience growth rates above 4.5 percent this year, according to analyst firm Ovum.

But the firm said that while it was a "relatively positive forecast, the market will not see pre-recessionary growth levels" until at least the start of next year.

Principal IT services analyst Jens Butler said the IT services market in A/NZ was forecast to grow to over $14 billion by the end of 2013.

According to Butler, infrastructure outsourcing and support services had proven particular "safe harbours" for many service providers during the financial crisis.

"The recession did impact the IT services market in A/NZ to some extent, spread across a number of sectors and services, with consulting being hit relatively hard," said Butler.

"However, this area has rebounded strongly towards the end of 2009 within a number of key verticals and is leading the investment charge into 2010".