The nine teams were divided into two pools of four and five teams. The teams that finished first in the pools played-off to determine which team would partake in the World Group play-offs. The two nations coming last in the pools were relegated to Group II for 2002.
The fourteen teams were randomly divided into four pools of three and four teams to compete in round-robin competitions. The teams then competed in knockout tournaments with teams that had taken equal placements in their pools to determine overall placings for the group. Teams finishing first and second advanced to Group I for 2002.