Viasat and Space42 Partner on D2D Joint-Venture

UAE-based Space42 partnered up with Viasat to form Equatys, a jointly-held entity focused on enabling global direct-to-device services. The companies said that Equatys represents the industry’s first space tower company model, implementing shared space and ground non-terrestrial-network infrastructure, to lower capital costs and improve spectrum utilisation.

As well as uniting satellite and terrestrial networks, those planning to launch Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) will be able to evolve to a 5G network environment through Equatys. It will be able to support well over 100MHz of harmonised MSS spectrum already allocated across more than 160 markets, with a target of rolling out commercially within three years. Other than that timeline, the companies did not provide any financial details or commitments.

In operating a so-called towerco model, the venture will offer wholesale D2D services to third parties. They also pointed to advantages for operators to grow profitability, allow governments to own and operate infrastructure to maintain national data sovereignty, and allow local space industries to participate in space and ground technology development and manufacturing.

Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO of Viasat, said Equatys will make possible a shared multi-orbit network of scale with standards-based open architecture to address the significant D2D and next-generation MSS market opportunity. Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile unveiled plans for a similar joint venture satellite business at MWC 2025, targeting launch next year.