The ICT sector includes manufacturing and service companies that store, manipulate and transmit information. The manufacturing side includes companies in the communications and telecommunications equipment, electronic components, computer equipment, wire and cable suppliers and instrumentation industry segments. The service side includes companies in the cable television telecommunications services, ICT wholesaling, software developers Internet companies, office equipment rentals and parts of customer contact industry segments.

In Manitoba, there are an estimated 300 ICT companies in operation. While there are large multinational ICT companies based in Manitoba, the vast majority of ICT companies are small or medium sized:

• Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) is the leading company in the sector generating over $1 billion in revenue and employing over 3,500 in 2001.

• Another homegrown success is Vansco Electronics, which began operations as a start-up company in 1978 and now employs over 600 Manitobans. Vansco specializes in the design and manufacture of custom electronic, electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic products.

The technical help desk sub-sector in Manitoba is a further example of a made-in-Manitoba ICT success story with nearly 1,000 employees providing technical help desk support services for ICT applications.

Manitoba offers ICT manufacturers and service providers a unique combination of competitive advantages including:

• a productive and well-educated ICT workforce available at favorable wages
  
  
• an estimated 6,600 students enrolled in ICT programs in the province in 2000/01
  
  
• an extensive network of R&D facilities supporting ICT innovation and technology diffusion
  
  
• an advanced telecommunications infrastructure with high-speed access becoming the norm, thanks to these initiatives:

— MTS’s $300 million investment will bring high-speed Internet access to 85 per cent of its Manitoba locations including an additional 43 rural locations by the end of 2003.

— The rollout of the next generation provincial data network will bring broadband access to an additional 53 communities by June 2003.

— Manitoba Hydro is investing $94 million in 1,100 kilometres of 48-strand fibre optic cable infrastructure. This fibre optic superhighway will extend all the way to Gillam and will be completed by 2004, offering business-to-business services to many more remote communities in central and northern Manitoba.

Also visit the following sections:

• Manitoba's OEM Advantages
• Industry Sector Summaries