UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech firm Space42 and US satellite communications leader Viasat have unveiled plans to establish Equatys, a jointly owned entity designed to enable Direct-to-Device (D2D) services and evolve existing Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) into a 5G environment.
Equatys will integrate satellite and terrestrial networks through a 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Release-compliant platform accessible via standard smartphones and IoT devices. By harnessing more than 100 MHz of harmonized MSS spectrum allocated across 160+ markets, the venture aims to deliver reliable global connectivity to billions of people and devices, with commercial rollout planned within three years.
TowerCo-Style Shared Model
Operating under a multi-tenant “space tower” infrastructure model, Equatys will reduce redundant investments and provide cost-efficient capacity to licensed operators. The neutral platform will allow operators, governments, and local space industries to share infrastructure while preserving data sovereignty and ensuring space sustainability.
This shared multi-orbit network will use open 5G architecture to let multiple independent operators tap into spectrum blocks currently isolated across different satellite systems, fostering a more inclusive and scalable ecosystem.
Investment and Governance
Equatys is structured to attract both strategic and financial investors, offering infrastructure-grade returns and equity growth potential. Phased equity offerings will enable broader participation as the system scales. The governance model emphasizes secure, standards-based infrastructure with sovereign deployment options, aligning with global sustainability principles to minimize orbital impact.
Leaders’ Remarks
Karim Sabbagh, Managing Director of Space42, and Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services Space42, said Equatys will finally deliver on the satellite industry’s decades-long vision of combining terrestrial scale with space efficiency: “The promise of universal connectivity is now becoming a reality.”
Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg added that Equatys will make possible a shared, standards-based multi-orbit network, unlocking significant opportunities in D2D and next-gen MSS markets. The network will support high-performance use cases including safety services across air, land, and sea.
