Nasa pens $2.5bn outsourcing deal

Space agency Nasa has signed a $2.5 billion, 10-year outsourcing contract with HP to meet its desktop, mobile and other computing needs, reports Computerworld.

The federal space agency revealed it has signed the agreement with HP's Enterprise Services unit in Herndon.

Under the contract, HP will manage Nasa's personal computing hardware and software, mobile IT services, peripherals, accessories and supporting infrastructure.

The $60 billion-plus Indian information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing industry after a fairly good growth in 2010 is likely to witness a phase of consolidation in 2011, states Silicon India.

As IT requirements change rapidly due to an increasingly complex threat landscape and new usage models, including clouds and numerous consumer electronics devices connecting to the Internet, security will remain one of the highest priorities for the IT industry.

The ISA-Frost and Sullivan report 2010/2011 estimates the total market revenues generated in the Indian semiconductor market were $5.39 billion and it is expected to reach $8.04 billion in 2011.

Kenya's outsourcing sector is expected to gain from increased Internet connectivity this year, reveals Daily Nation.

This comes as players channel much of their investments into Internet infrastructure. Last year, the industry regulator, Communications Commission of Kenya, awarded Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya licences to roll out 3G networks in a move that will allow them to offer superior Internet services.

Three operators - Airtel, Telkom Kenya's Orange and Essar Telecom's Yu - have successfully lobbied for a reduction in 3G spectrum fees from the two billion Kenyan shillings Safaricom paid in 2007 to 800 million Kenyan shillings.