1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/01/2005   
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Contents >> Communications and information technology >> The information and communication technology (ICT) sector

The ICT sector is that part of the economy which produces information and communication technology goods and services. It includes businesses involved in telecommunication services, computer services, and selected manufacturing and wholesale trade industries. The ICT sector overlaps with the Communication Services Division discussed earlier.

Table 23.8 provides statistics for a selection of industries considered to be the prominent contributors to the production and distribution of ICT goods and services. At June 2003 there were 23,950 ICT specialist businesses in the industries surveyed, with 18,524 (77%) of these in the computer consultancy services industry. ICT specialists are those businesses for which the income from the sale, distribution and provision of ICT goods and services forms the greater part of the total income of the business.

There were 235,696 persons working in ICT specialist businesses at the end of June 2003, with 99,574 (42%) working in the computer consultancy services industry and 67,750 (29%) working in the telecommunication services industry.

During 2002-03 total income of ICT specialist businesses was $79,894m, with the main contributions towards this coming from the telecommunication services industry ($31,796m or 40%), computer wholesaling industry ($17,338m or 22%) and computer consultancy services industry ($15,935m or 20%).

ICT specialist businesses generated a total operating profit before tax of $6,393m during 2002-03, with the majority ($4,766m or 75%) coming from the telecommunication services industry.


23.8 INDUSTRIES IN THE ICT SECTOR(a), Summary of operations - 2002-03

Businesses
at end June
Employment
at end June
ICT
income
Total
income
Total
expenses
Operating profit
before tax
Industry
no.
no.
$m
$m
$m
$m

Manufacturing
Computer and business machines
233
2,210
808
826
759
46
Telecommunication, broadcasting and transceiving equipment
^89
4,526
891
937
877
(b)n.p.
Electronic equipment n.e.c.
252
3,403
627
658
625
^33
Electric cable and wire
^27
699
199
222
216
(b)n.p.
Total
602
10,838
2,525
2,642
2,477
108
Wholesale trade
Computers
1,831
29,016
16,625
17,338
16,919
553
Business machines
447
6,749
1,625
2,283
2,182
96
Electrical and electronic equipment n.e.c.
807
14,249
7,938
8,842
8,546
^250
Total
3,085
50,013
26,188
28,463
27,647
899
Telecommunication services
956
67,750
29,862
31,796
26,955
4,766
Computer services
Data processing
^204
^1,619
^168
^175
^165
*10
Information storage and retrieval
^58
932
210
212
207
(b)n.p.
Computer maintenance
521
4,970
639
671
662
(b)n.p.
Computer consultancy
18,524
99,574
15,099
15,935
15,309
^586
Total
19,307
107,094
16,116
16,993
16,343
^620
Total
23,950
235,696
74,692
79,894
73,421
6,393

(a) The data relates to ICT specialist businesses within the industries in the ICT sector.
(b) Not published separately, included in total.

Source: Information Technology, Australia, 2002-03 (8126.0).


Total income from the domestic production of selected ICT goods and services was $48.8b in 2002-03 (table 23.9), and mainly comprised telecommunication services (60%) and computer services (33%). Imports of selected ICT goods and services totalled $15.1b during 2002-03, and mainly comprised computer and communications hardware, equipment, cables and other computer parts, and consumables (81%).


23.9 ICT GOODS AND SERVICES, Production, imports and exports - 2002-03

Income from domestic production
Imports
(custom value)
Exports
(f.o.b.)(a)
Re-exports
(f.o.b.)
Commodity
$m
$m
$m
$m

Computer and communications hardware, equipment and cables
2,934
12,293
2,329
1,373
Packaged software and associated licensing
538
507
163
5
Computer services
15,975
929
1,071
n.a.
Telecommunication services
29,332
1,407
1,083
n.a.
Total
48,779
15,136
4,646
1,379

(a) Exports include exports of Australian commodities and re-exports of goods of foreign origin.

Source: Information Technology, Australia, 2002-03 (8126.0).



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