The Irish telecommunications industry came of age yesterday with the opening of Comms 99, a three-day biennial industry showcase.

It is the biggest event of its type in the Republic and the first time the new entrants to the deregulated telecoms market have stood cheek by jowl with their more established rivals, vying for the attention of potential customers. Money was not an object as the panoply of colour and innovative displays cost many of the major exhibitors between £30,000 and £100,000 to erect.

The participation of so many telecommunications operators - including MCI WorldCom, GTS, Ocean, Telecom Eireann, Esat Telecom and Nortel - highlights the potential for a vibrant Irish communications industry. The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, repeated the Government's commitment to become an electronic commerce "hub" for Europe and said it would soon be introducing limited regulation aimed at assuring consumers their privacy would be protected online. The most significant feature will be an Electronic Signatures Bill which will be submitted for Government approval in June.

Such legislation will lead to the use of strong and secure encryption technology to ensure the confidential and reliable transmission of information online. The result will be an electronic signature which will encrypt data in an unique and authentic electronic form, recognisable only to the sender and receiver of online information.

A spokesman for the Department of Public Enterprise, Mr Niall O'Donnchu, said the Government plans to introduce its own legislation in advance of an EU directive on electronic signatures in order to "enhance electronic commerce trust here". The new legislation will be drafted with the help of an industry focus group and broader consultation within the e-commerce industry.

Following government approval, electronic signatures legislation is expected by autumn.

Comms 99, which ends tomorrow, is largely a platform for product launches and partnership announcements by telecommunications companies and equipment providers. Announcements yesterday included a new Esat Telecom multi-payment payphone which will accept payments by coin, calling card or credit card and the display by Sigma Wireless, which partners with Motorola, of the world's smallest and lightest mobile phone.