IT companies await crucial budget decision from TPSA

Telekomunikacja Polska (TPSA) is to decide within the next few days about the size of its 2004 IT budget. According to unofficial information, the company is taking into account three possible scenarios. The most modest one envisages spending around zł. 530 million, whereas the maximum one is set at zł. 700 million. The final approval of one of the plans will take place between December 19-23. "This will be an important decision for companies from the IT sector, as TPSA is one of the biggest spenders. TPSA's IT budget shapes the market to a large degree," said the president of one of larger IT companies. "Whether TPSA spends or cuts zł. 200 million on IT investments will not concern its investors," said one market analyst. For the past three years TPSA has been spending around zł. 700 million annually on IT, but the fear of such a major cut, from the perspective of IT companies, is no doubt sending a shudder down their backs. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.K.