ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the structure of information technology markets, both domestic and international and describes some of the technological features specific to the industries. It discusses international and British market structures in the industries of telecommunications, computing and microelectronics and reviews the historical and technological development of each of the industries. Within telecommunications, the advent of computer-controlled telephone exchanges has introduced an evolution in design. In each of the three markets, the international market is dominated by American multinationals. In each, the British market has been penetrated by these multinational companies. For British governments the dominance of multinational companies within the computing and microcircuit markets has created parameters to action in support of domestically-owned manufacturers. There are more multinationals in the British market than was the case in the 1950s, when only Standard Telephone Cables, a subsidiary of ITT, was present in the public exchange market.
