According to UK-based Web site, http://www.contractoruk.com, a joint report by Cisco Systems and IDC claims the UK is currently facing a shortage of over 19,000 IT professionals with skills in advanced networking.

Geldenhuys says that the report states that this figure is expected to soar to 40,000 over the next three years.

By this time, says http://www.contractoruk.com, no country in Europe will be "well positioned" to meet the demands of advance network technologies, as the dire need for expertise will outstrip supply by 20 percent in Eastern European nations.

It is believed that the skills shortage - unless seriously and timeously addressed - will get worse. Indeed, 80 percent of businesses surveyed admitted that the importance of their network could increase in the foreseeable future.

"We are facing a similar scenario in this country," says Geldenhuys.

"Since the dotcom crash at the turn of the century many companies have been holding back on substantial IT spending, including upgrading networks. Many networks out there have reached the end of the road.