ATLANTA -- FlexLight Networks, an optical access pioneer delivering the industry's first Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON) solution for the first mile, today announced that it has received an additional US$900,000 investment on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist, the research and development arm of the Israeli Ministry of Trade.

This tranche of investment recognises the ITU's decision to confirm GPON as a standard and hails FlexLight Network's own technological innovation and market direction.

"This new funding from the Israeli Chief Scientist Office proves that we are making excellent progress," said FlexLight Network's CEO, Gary Lee. "Our commitment to supplying operators and service providers with a scalable, robust and cost-effective platform is both reflected in, and endorsed by, this important decision. The new grant will be used to support our world-class R&D efforts in Israel."

The three current GPON standards, G.984.1, G.984.2 and G.984.3, not only validate FlexLight's proposition but also position them as a first-to-market pioneer. G.984.1 is the standard for the general characteristics of GPON systems, such as architecture, bit rates, reach and security, whilst G.984.2 specifies speeds of up to 2.5Gbps - at least twice the speed of previous standards and G.984.3 covers the overall protocols used to efficiently carry voice, video and data over the Gigabit PON.

The Ministry of Industry & Trade aids in the strengthening and expansion of the technological base of the Israeli industry through a wide range of support programs that are implemented by the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry, including this fund aimed at supporting promising start-ups in Israel.

FlexLight Networks Inc.