Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to establish Equatys, a shared space and ground infrastructure platform designed to support direct-to-device and advanced mobile satellite connectivity worldwide. The UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company and the global satellite communications provider will make an initial combined equity contribution of up to US$1 billion once the joint venture is formally established. The agreement was signed during World Space Business Week in Paris as demand for satellite-enabled mobile connectivity continues to grow.
Equatys is being developed to extend mobile coverage into areas where terrestrial networks cannot provide sufficient service, including coverage gaps in populated areas. The platform is designed to connect smartphones, Internet of Things devices and other terminals directly to satellites, allowing mobile operators to provide voice, messaging and data services in locations where cellular infrastructure is unavailable or has limited density. Space42 and Viasat said their existing relationships with more than 400 mobile operators worldwide will provide a broad commercial foundation for the platform.
The proposed infrastructure will operate as a shared layer of satellites and ground systems, allowing participating operators and spectrum licensees to use common infrastructure rather than developing separate networks. This approach is intended to reduce capital requirements, accelerate deployment and increase service availability while allowing operators to maintain their own customers, spectrum rights and commercial relationships. The platform will also remain open to additional satellite operators and spectrum licensees, supporting greater coordination and aggregation of available spectrum resources.
The initial satellite constellation represents the first phase of an architecture planned to eventually scale to 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes and three altitude layers. Space42 holds coordinated L-band spectrum rights across more than 160 markets, while Viasat brings global L-band spectrum rights and S-band rights in Europe, along with its role as the expected prime technology contractor. Together, the companies have access to more than 100 MHz of globally coordinated mobile satellite service spectrum for advanced satellite and non-terrestrial network direct-to-device services.
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