The Republic is admired internationally for transforming its telecoms infrastructure and should be used as a model for other nations, according to executives at the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC) meeting in Dublin this week.

Founded six years ago, the commission is an advisory body to the G8 group of the world's wealthiest nations. It primarily comprises senior executives of leading companies in the technology and telecommunications sector. The group was established to provide leadership in the development of a global information infrastructure. It retains a particular interest in issues emerging in developing countries.

The commission's executive director Mr Bob Rogers said that nations in the Caribbean and South America as well as India were using the Republic as a model for developing their telecommunications networks and encouraging competition.

Several times during the two day meeting, delegates discussed the Republic's turnaround from a State with a single, protected incumbent to a deregulated market. They also discussed its use of public-private partnerships to spur infrastructure development.

Members were intrigued by the Government's establishment of an Advisory Committee on Telecommunications (ACT) that consulted with relevant parties in the State before producing a report of recommendations.

Three members of the ACT are also members of the commission: Mr Brian Thompson, president of Universal Telecommunications, who chaired the group; Mr Denis Gilhooly, director of the information and communications technology for the development division of the United Nations Development Programme; and Lady Dougan, chair of the Cyber Century Forum.

Delegates said the Republic's model could be used by the commission.