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Information and communication technology (ICT) is a mainstay and growth driver of the economy in NRW. ICT initiates innovations in all industries, thereby creating growth and future-proof jobs. 80 percent of all innovations in the key industries of the German economy are ICT-driven. For NRW as an industrial location, ICT is therefore of great strategic importance. More than any other technology, it contributes toward strengthening the state as an innovative technology and service location. In 2008, the 15,170 ICT companies in the state employed around 141,000 people and generated sales of 56.84 billion euros. This represents 10.5 percent of the gross domestic product in NRW. With sales of 11.0 billion the information technology (IT) industry in NRW numbers over 114,000 employees subject to social security contributions (2008). The Ruhr Metropolitan Region distinguishes itself in many areas of IT and software development. Well-known IT companies with their headquarters or branches in NRW include Atos Origin, Fujitsu, Itelligence, Materna and Toshiba. The telecommunications industry in NRW is particularly well represented along the "Rhine axis". Besides Vodafone, E-Plus and Ericsson are based in Düsseldorf, and Deutsche Telekom is located in Bonn. In 2008, the industry generated sales of around 45.8 billion euros in NRW with over 26,000 employees. 86 percent of the mobile telephone market in Germany is covered by companies from NRW.