An Israeli global phone company has received approval to open a global business phone network based in the United States.

Last Thursday, Moshe Maeir, head of Israel's Flat Planet Phone Company, received notice that his application had been approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The approval involved a six-month investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Council and other internal security agencies.

The probe was necessitated by a presidential decree mandating national security clearance to approve any license for foreign-owned telephony companies.

The Israeli firm announced with satisfaction that the FCC approval has “opened a worldwide communications market” for its business.

Maeir said that following the FCC approval, the company plans to ratchet up its marketing activities and distribution network in the United States. The company plans to sign a memorandum of understanding this week with a firm that will handle distribution in the tri-state New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area.

Flat Planet provides the small- and medium-sized business market with communications solutions generally found only in large businesses employing more than 2,000 employees.

Flat Planet, currently involved in advanced negotiations for a communications license in Europe, plans to develop a global telephone network to provide communication services for businesses around the world, said Maeir.