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The rise of IT services clusters in India: A case of growth by replication

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  • Rao, P.M.
  • Balasubrahmanya, M.H.

Abstract

The Indian IT services sector has grown from small beginnings at the bottom of value creation to a major player in the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry. It commands a 55% share in the global market for IT services. India's IT sector value proposition in terms of low cost with large supply of high quality talent is compelling. As a result, India has become the premier choice not only for outsourcing IT services by the developed-world's multinational corporations (MNCs) but also for locating their own Global In-house Centers (GICs), which simultaneously compete and partner with local firms. This gave rise to six additional clusters beyond the earliest, largest and robust cluster, Bangalore. The paper provides a review of relevant literature; develops a conceptual framework for evaluation of clusters; and presents data and analysis with respect to relative size, growth, specialization, MNC presence and connectivity to local firms through expatriates and returning Indians, ,innovation; and discusses adequacy of ICT infrastructure for future growth. Although there are clear signs that the Indian IT sector has been moving towards a regime of providing high-end value added services, the sector's value proposition – lower cost combined with a large supply of high quality talent – remains the single most compelling reason for the rise and growth of multiple export clusters. Thus the sector's growth appears to be a case of growth by replication rather than innovation. The paper concludes that the Indian IT sector's value proposition in terms of lower cost combined with large supply of high quality talent remains the single most compelling reason for the rise and growth of multiple IT services export clusters. While the old adage, “people follow jobs” still holds for large part of the labor force, there is little doubt that the sprawling IT services clusters in India - with more to come from Tier II and Tier III cities – indicate, in fact, that “jobs follow talent." Both local firms and the MNCs, through their GICs, are pushing the boundaries of location farther and farther to continue to leverage cost advantage and available pools of talent.

Suggested Citation

  • Rao, P.M. & Balasubrahmanya, M.H., 2017. "The rise of IT services clusters in India: A case of growth by replication," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 90-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:41:y:2017:i:2:p:90-105
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2016.11.006
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    3. Tiago Couto Porto & Keun Lee & Sunil Mani, 2021. "The US–Ireland–India in the catch-up cycles in IT services: MNCs, indigenous capabilities and the roles of macroeconomic variables," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(1), pages 59-82, March.
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    5. Lee, Keun & Lee, Jongho & Lee, Juneyoung, 2021. "Variety of national innovation systems (NIS) and alternative pathways to growth beyond the middle-income stage: Balanced, imbalanced, catching-up, and trapped NIS," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    6. Surabhi Somya & Madhuri Saripalle, 2023. "The Determinants of Firm’s Growth in the Telecommunication Services Industry: Empirical Evidence from India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 21(1), pages 193-211, March.
    7. Liliya Satalkina & Gerald Steiner, 2020. "Digital Entrepreneurship and its Role in Innovation Systems: A Systematic Literature Review as a Basis for Future Research Avenues for Sustainable Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-27, April.
    8. Kshitija Joshi, 2018. "Managing the risks from high-tech Investments in India: differential strategies of foreign and domestic venture capital firms," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 8(1), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Zhang, Yihan & Xu, Jinwen & Yang, Wancheng, 2024. "Analysis of the evolution characteristics of international ICT services trade based on complex network," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3).
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    11. Ling Zhang, 2024. "Spatial agglomeration of information services industry and its evolution: Evidence from the Pearl River Delta, China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), March.

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