Worldwide IT spending estimated to grow to $3.5 trillion this year

Worldwide information technology spending is projected to total $3.5 trillion in 2017, an increase of 1.4 percent over 2016, according to Gartner. The Stamford research firm noted that its forecast is lower than the previous quarter’s estimate of 2.7 percent, in part due to the rising U.S. dollar.

The data center system segment is expected to grow 0.3 percent in 2017 to $171 billion, while spending on enterprise software is predicted to grow 5.5 percent to $351 billion. Spending on devices and IT services is forecast to grow by 1.7 percent and 2.3 percent to $645 billion and $917 billion respectively this year.

Communications services, which makes up the majority of IT spending, is expected to see a decline to $1.3 trillion by year”™s end.