Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered space technology company, and U.S.-based Viasat announced plans on Monday to establish a joint venture called Equatys, aimed at enabling global direct-to-device services. The new entity will combine satellite and terrestrial networks using a 3GPP-compliant Non-Terrestrial Network platform accessible to standard smartphones and IoT devices, extending mobile connectivity to areas that terrestrial networks do not reach.
The venture is expected to leverage more than 100 MHz of harmonized Mobile Satellite Services spectrum that has already been allocated across over 160 markets. With a commercial rollout targeted within three years, Equatys is being positioned as a foundation for reliable global communications while also facilitating the transition of existing mobile satellite services to a 5G network environment.
Space42 Managing Director Karim Sabbagh and Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services at Space42, said the project would fulfill a longstanding ambition of the satellite industry to combine the reach of terrestrial networks with the efficiency of space. They described Equatys as infrastructure designed to deliver universal connectivity, underpinned by globally coordinated spectrum and supported by strong partners.
Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, said Equatys will deliver a shared multi-orbit network with open architecture standards to address growing demand for direct-to-device and next-generation satellite services. By applying high-performance transparent satellite architectures and shared infrastructure, he said, the network will be able to provide cost-efficient capacity while also supporting critical services related to the safety of air, land, and sea.
Equatys will operate on a shared infrastructure model designed to lower capital costs and optimize spectrum usage across the industry. By functioning as a neutral “space tower” company, it will provide both space and ground infrastructure that multiple operators can access on a global basis. The model is intended to eliminate redundant investment, reduce risk, and create cost efficiencies, while also offering governments the ability to deploy sovereign infrastructure and local industries the opportunity to participate in technology development and manufacturing.
From an investment perspective, the venture is expected to benefit from agreements that will make capital-intensive space and ground infrastructure available at the lowest cost to licensed operators around the world. Financial investors are being offered infrastructure-grade returns with equity appreciation potential, while phased equity offerings will allow strategic and financial partners to participate as the system scales.
Equatys will also follow sustainability principles aimed at minimizing orbital footprint and ensuring efficient use of space resources. The initiative is being advanced following a memorandum of understanding signed by Space42 and Viasat in March 2025, which has since moved from technical and commercial studies into a formal agreement to create a jointly-owned infrastructure company, subject to customary approvals.
Space42, formed in 2024 through the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, combines satellite communications, geospatial analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities and operates under shareholders including G42, Mubadala, and IHC. Its two business units focus on upstream satellite services and AI-driven smart solutions. Viasat, which completed its acquisition of Inmarsat in 2023, has operations in 24 countries and provides secure, reliable satellite connectivity to governments, enterprises, and consumers across the globe.
Equatys, if executed as planned, could represent one of the most ambitious efforts yet to integrate satellite and terrestrial networks, bridging longstanding gaps in global connectivity while creating new opportunities for mobile operators, governments, and technology developers in the expanding direct-to-device market.
