Input sees more telecom dollars

Agencies will spend $21 billion on telecommunications products and services in fiscal 2009, according to research firm Input.

The prediction represents about 35 percent growth from the estimated $15.2 billion that agencies are expected to spend in fiscal 2004, according to Input's report. The Homeland Security and Defense departments will lead the increase, with a 40 percent rise in their spending, the research firm predicts.

Telecom is one of the main technology areas that will grow during the short term because of homeland security initiatives, said Chris Campbell, senior analyst of federal market analysis at Input. The technology supports information sharing between federal agencies, and between agencies and first responders, he noted. It also plays a key role in DOD's force transformation efforts.

Telecom will account for about 26 percent of federal information technology spending in 2004, he added.