A recent MAIT and Ernst & Young research report has revealed that the Indian electronics hardware sector is expected to touch $62 billion by 2010. The requirement for hardware manpower is estimated to be 5 lakh by 2005 and 12 lakh by 2010. While the hardware sector as a career option has played second-fiddle to software, this may well change in the coming years, and the profile of aspirants opting for a career in hardware would simultaneously change as well. 

According to a survey by Ernst&Young, there were 2.4 lakh hardware and networking professionals at the moment and the requirement was likely to grow tenfold in the years to come. Network security, WAN, and wireless network administration were popular courses in 2003-2004 and indicated potential for further growth too. 

While Nasscom maintained that BPO sector would grow to be a Rs 81,000-crore industry in India and generate 1.1 million jobs by 2008,  former Telecom Commission chairman N Vittal, who had played an instrumental part in developing Indian IT industry, cautions the laxity in an article, The Horse that Flew that "the English advantage we have may be eroded by 2008 when China has promised that at the time of Olympics practically all concerned, from the porter at the airport to the bell boy in hotel will speak English."  At this stage the BPO engaged in Tech support and IT helpdesk processes will survive and the Hardware and Networking training industry will play a vital role in fulfilling this massive requirement of hardware/Networking specialists in BPO sectors. 

India urgently faces a shortage of around 200,000 IT and ITeS professionals. The shortage is bound to grow to 3.6 million in the next eight years.

According to a Nasscom-Mckinsey study, India needs at least 630,000 IT professionals in 2004, but it still lacks 175,000 in manpower.

By 2006, there will be another 430,000 fresh demand to be met. It will increase to another 990,000 in 2009 and by 2012 it will reach 3.6 million. And if Morgan Stanley estimates are to be believed, Indian off shoring industry is expected to increase by more than triple to 24 per cent from eight per cent currently. 

Considering the above survey and observing the regular growth in the size of the global market for Hardware and Networking Training, there has never been a better time to invest in Networking and Internet Security. Both sectors , individually and jointly are poised for remarkable growth.