Space42 and Viasat Launch Equatys to Deliver Global Direct-to-Device Connectivity

UAE-based Space42 and US satellite operator Viasat have announced plans to establish a joint venture, Equatys, with the aim of delivering global direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity and transitioning existing mobile satellite services into a 5G environment.

The venture will bring together satellite and terrestrial networks through a 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) compliant platform. The system is designed to be accessible on standard smartphones and IoT devices, broadening the reach of mobile connectivity. According to the companies, the platform will be capable of supporting more than 100 MHz of harmonised mobile satellite spectrum across over 160 global markets. Commercial rollout is scheduled within the next three years.

Equatys will operate under what its founders describe as a “space tower company” model. This approach will provide shared multi-orbit satellite and ground infrastructure, enabling lower capital costs and improved spectrum efficiency. The design is intended to complement terrestrial mobile networks while reducing duplicative investments across the telecoms industry.

“Equatys will achieve what the satellite industry has pursued for decades: combining the scale of terrestrial networks with the efficiency of space,” said Karim Sabbagh, managing director of Space42, and Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services at Space42, in a joint statement. “The promise of universal connectivity is now becoming a reality.”

Mark Dankberg, chairman and chief executive of Viasat, said the venture’s standards-based architecture would strengthen the reliability and cost efficiency of satellite communications. “By leveraging high-performance transparent satellite architectures and shared infrastructure, the network will deliver cost-efficient capacity and use 5G New Radio standards, evolving existing mobile satellite services—including critical applications supporting the safety of air, land, and sea,” he said.

Space42 itself was formed in 2024 through the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, with shareholders including G42, Mubadala, and International Holding Company (IHC). Viasat, meanwhile, expanded its global reach following the acquisition of Inmarsat in 2023.

The partners confirmed that Equatys will function as a neutral infrastructure provider, open to partnerships across the industry. As the venture scales, phased equity offerings will allow additional investors to participate, broadening its capital base.

Analysts say the initiative reflects a wider trend in the satellite and telecoms industries to converge space-based and terrestrial services, with the goal of extending mobile coverage to areas traditionally beyond the reach of ground infrastructure. If successful, Equatys could strengthen both companies’ positions in the emerging market for D2D satellite connectivity while advancing global efforts to close the digital divide.