Spending on information and communications technology (ICT) in Thailand is expected to increase by 9.8% to US$21 billion this year thanks to the use of more smart devices and the arrival of third-generation (3G) services.
International Data Corporation (IDC), the global research company, said the tablet market will surpass notebooks for the first time, while the robust double-digit growth of personal computers will not be seen any more.
"Consumer spending on smartphones and tablets will be a key driver for the country's ICT industry in 2013," said Attaphon Satidkanitkul, the research manager at IDC Asia-Pacific.
Last year, the Thai ICT market grew by 9.1% to $19 billion.
Emerging technologies, particularly cloud computing, mobility, social business and big data/analytics, are also expected to fuel enterprise ICT spending.
Mr Attaphon said the banking, finance, insurance, telecommunications and public sectors will be among the top ICT spenders this year due to heavy competition, 3G network investment and government projects such as the Government Cloud and One Tablet per Child schemes.
Jarit Sidhu, an analyst at IDC Thailand, said the country's smartphone market is projected to grow by 40% to 7.3 million units this year, up from 30% growth last year, thanks to more affordable prices and the roll-out of 3G services.
The tablet market will surge 40% with sales of 3.5 million units to overtake notebooks.
The overall PC market will see negative growth for the first time, with shipments below 4 million units, said IDC. Of the total, 1.5 million will be desktop computers, while less than 2.5 million will be notebooks.
The PC market has grown at double-digit rates over the past decade. Even in 2011 when there were huge floods, it recorded sharp growth of 17-18%.
IDC predicts the highest growth possibility for the PC market from 2013-16 will be 4%.
PC makers should make ultrabooks and convertible devices at more affordable prices of below 24,000 baht to make them attractive to consumers, it said.
IDC expects mobile data spending will rise by 14% to $1.7 billion on the back of internet browsing, social networking and entertainment.
Spending on telecom services is expected to reach $8.5 billion, up by 4.4%.