Dubai — U.S.-based Viasat and Emirati satellite operator Space42 have announced that their joint venture, Equatys, has secured its first mobile network partner, the telecom arm of e&, marking a major step toward commercializing direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity in the UAE.
The agreement, signed at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, sets the stage for e& and Equatys to jointly develop a space-based service designed to connect devices beyond terrestrial coverage within the next three years. The partnership will focus on four key areas:
- Technical Integration: Seamless interoperability between terrestrial and satellite systems and the development of standardized non-terrestrial network (NTN) capabilities.
- Regulatory & Security Cooperation: Harmonizing spectrum, licensing, and data privacy compliance across regions.
- Research & Development: Joint innovation labs and pilot programs to test integration with 4G and 5G networks.
- Strategic Growth Initiatives: Building a shared product roadmap and exploring investment programs across e&’s 38-market footprint in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Equatys, formed in September, plans to leverage over 100 MHz of harmonized Mobile Satellite Spectrum (MSS) across 160+ countries, offering a multi-tenant “space tower” model that mimics the efficiency of shared terrestrial towers.
The venture also positions itself as a sovereignty-friendly alternative to SpaceX, emphasizing compliance with national spectrum policies to give governments more control over operations.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to expand aggressively, acquiring 50 MHz of spectrum from EchoStar in a $17 billion deal, while AST SpaceMobile pushes forward with its global D2D satellite network.
In a separate announcement, Space42 and e& agreed to collaborate on vehicle technologies, including autonomous mobility and smart-city infrastructure initiatives in the UAE.
