Leaving its worst year behind, global IT spending is expected to increase 3.3 per cent in 2010, research firm Gartner said.

According to Gartner, IT spending is expected to decline 5.2 per cent in 2009, but is forecast to grow by 3.3 per cent to $3.3 trillion in 2010. However, returning to 2008 revenue levels will take longer.

“While the IT industry will return to growth in 2010, the market will not recover to 2008 revenue levels before 2012,” Gartner senior vice-president and global head (research) Peter Sondergaar said in a statement.

Sondergaar said for more than 50 per cent of the chief information officers, the IT budget for 2010 will be zero per cent or less in growth terms, but “will slowly improve in the year 2011.”

Gartner said the worldwide computer hardware spending was expected to be flat in 2010 after declining 16.5 per cent this year to $317 billion.

Global telecom spending is expected to decline 4 per cent in 2009 with revenue of nearly $1.9 trillion, but is forecast to grow 3.2 per cent in 2010.

Global IT services spending is expected to total $781 billion in 2009, and grow 4.5 per cent in 2010, while global software spending is expected to decline 2.1 per cent in 2009 and grow 4.8 per cent in the year 2010.

“By 2012, the accelerated IT spending and culturally different approach to IT in these economies will directly influence product features, service structures, and the overall IT industry. Silicon Valley will not be in the driver’s seat anymore,” Sondergaard said.