The leading UN telecommunications official has thrown his support behind Australia's national broadband network, arguing it could make the nation a world leader, according to Fairfax Media reports.


International Telecommunications Union secretary general Hamadoun Toure believes the development of the network will boost economic growth and take Australia to the top of global rankings when it comes to broadband.


"Three to five years from now, Australia will be number one in broadband in the world," he told Fairfax.


"A large size country like this can be a test bed for any scenario that could happen anywhere else in the world."


Dr Toure does not expect other countries to copy the government's strategy, however, as the development level, structure and policies are never alike in two countries, he said.