Input reports $43 billion in 'hidden' wireless spending

Federal information technology contracting opportunities include about $43 billion in "hidden" spending on wireless components, according to Input Inc., a Reston, Va.-based IT market research firm.

"Federal wireless spending may be in three different parts of the budget: as telecommunications products and services, as part of IT spending and as part of larger non-IT projects," said Tom O'Flaherty, principal associate.

O'Flaherty is conducting a study of wireless IT-related contracting and spending by the federal government, Input announced this week.

The study will highlight major agency spending and identify the types of wireless projects that are most important across all agencies. It will identify major vendor opportunities in equipment, services, software and integrated applications, O'Flaherty said.

Input has estimated that federal telecommunications spending will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7 percent from fiscal 2003 to 2008. The wireless growth rate will be considerably higher than 7 percent, said Payton Smith, manager of federal market analysis services at Input.