Epidemic expected to create new ICT opportunities
Potential ICT opportunities in China in 2020
China’s information technology market will continue to grow despite challenges from the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a senior IDC representative.
Several new opportunities have emerged in China this year, like health-care system upgrades, online classrooms and education, as well as remote offices and working activities, IDC China’s Associate Vice President and Chief Analyst Wu Lianfeng said during a one-on-one interview.
IDC predicts 5.5 percent growth for the China's ICT (information and communications technology) market in 2020. The outbreak impact is expected to be mainly confined to the first quarter, said IDC.
But there are various opportunities and increases in spending with the government’s proactive fiscal measures and easing monetary measures. Benefiting sectors will include health care, education, telecommunication and utilities, Wu told Shanghai Daily.
For example, online health-care industry revenue will jump “at least 20 percent” in China this year, much higher than IDC’s earlier expectation of 12 percent growth, Wu said.
Other beneficiaries will include smart city construction, online education, fresh food e-commerce, unmanned commerce, 5G and supply chain management, IDC said.
The epidemics will also accelerate the “China+1” global supply chain strategy, which means additional facilities outside of major manufacturing bases in China, Wu added.
