Viasat and Space42’s D2D joint venture finds first mobile partner in UAE

TAMPA, Fla. — Equatys, the U.S.-based Viasat and Emirati satellite operator Space42’s shared space infrastructure joint venture for direct-to-device (D2D) services, has gained its first mobile network partner as it seeks to challenge SpaceX’s growing lead in the emerging market.

The companies said Oct. 14 the telecoms arm of the United Arab Emirates’ e& has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore how their planned space-based service could connect devices beyond terrestrial infrastructure within three years.

The companies agreed to pursue collaboration across four main areas:

• Technical integration: Aligning network infrastructure to enable seamless handover between terrestrial and satellite systems, developing new standardized non-terrestrial network (NTN) capabilities.
• Regulatory and security cooperation: Coordinating licensing, spectrum allocation and data privacy to meet regional and international standards.
• Research and development: Running joint innovation labs and pilot programs to test interoperability with existing 4G and 5G networks.
• Strategic initiatives and growth: Creating a joint product roadmap and exploring investment programs across e&’s footprint spanning 38 markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Sovereignty-friendly alternative

Announced in September, Equatys would combine more than 100 megahertz (MHz) of harmonized Mobile Satellite Spectrum (MSS) already allocated across over 160 countries.

The companies say their multi-tenant “space tower” model would mirror the cost and efficiency benefits of shared cellular tower infrastructure.

Equatys is also being styled as a sovereignty-friendly alternative to SpaceX, with executives emphasizing how it would work through existing national spectrum allocations to give governments more control over compliance and licensing.

SpaceX’s momentum has nonetheless reshaped the market in recent weeks.

The company is acquiring about 50 MHz of wireless spectrum and MSS licenses from EchoStar in a deal worth more than $17 billion. The move would give SpaceX direct ownership of globally cleared spectrum, reducing dependence on frequencies from cellular partners that are currently enabling limited text and data services in the U.S., New Zealand and Japan.

Texas-based D2D rival AST SpaceMobile, which claims to have more than 50 mobile partnerships worldwide — including AT&T and Verizon in the U.S. — is also amassing MSS spectrum.

AST has deployed five commercial satellites but needs dozens more to enable continuous broadband coverage, along with regulatory approval to provide commercial services.

In a separate Oct. 14 announcement, Space42 and e& also agreed to collaborate on vehicle technologies to support autonomous mobility and smart-city infrastructure across the UAE.