Competing telecoms firms and the lobby group IrelandOffline welcomed a decision by the Commission for Communications Regulation yesterday to force Eircom to facilitate the introduction of a flat-rate internet product by July.

However, Eircom, which has consistently opposed introducing a dial up flat rate internet product because it believes it would be uneconomic for the company, would not comment on the directive.

Esat BT said the devil was in the announcement's detail and there was much work to be done, but it now hoped to offer a flat-rate product with unlimited access to the internet at a cost of about €25-€30.

Talks will now begin between Eircom and other operators under the direction of the Commission to agree the wholesale rate at which operators can access Eircom's network to provide a flat-rate service.

Eircom's dominant position within the market means rivals need to gain wholesale access to its network.The Commission's decision sets a timetable for Eircom to provide a wholesale flat rate internet product to rivals, in a move that should enable competitors, and Eircom if it wants, to launch flat rate internet by June 27th.

The decision by the Commission follows public lobbying campaigns by pressure groups such as IrelandOffline and the recent intervention of the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern.

Mr David Long, founder of the lobby group IrelandOffline, said he was now confident a flat-rate product would be launched, and this would increase the number of Irish people using the internet.

Mr Bill Murphy, chief executive of Esat BT, described the directive as a significant step in the "e-enablement of Ireland".