UAE-based Space42 and Viasat have announced plans to form a JV that enables global Direct-to-Device (D2D) services.

According to the two companies, the venture, dubbed Equatys, will evolve existing and planned Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) to a 5G network environment.

Space42 was founded in 2024, following the merger of satellite operator Yahsat and analytics provider Bayanat.

Viasat notes that Equatys will "unite satellite and terrestrial networks," while leveraging a 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Release compliant platform accessible to standard smartphones and IoT devices. By doing so, the companies say that this will extend service to billions of people and devices worldwide.

In the announcement, the companies stated that Equatys will operate as a lean infrastructure provider through a shared multi-tenant model that reduces redundant investments while delivering cost-efficient capacity to ecosystem participants.

As such, the venture claims the multi-orbit infrastructure reduces individual investment risk. This, it says, will see governments able 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."

Equatys will operate and manage as a neutral “space tower” company providing the lowest-cost space and ground infrastructure that licensed operators can share, adds Viasat. This is a similar model to how many tower companies operate.

"Equatys will achieve what the satellite industry has pursued for decades: combining the scale of terrestrial networks with the efficiency of space," said Karim Sabbagh, managing director Space42.

"The promise of universal connectivity is now becoming a reality. Backed by global spectrum, proven technology, and strong partners, Equatys represents infrastructure built to power societies and transform economies worldwide."

The venture will support more than 100 MHz of harmonized MSS spectrum already allocated across more than 160 markets. The commercial rollout is expected to be completed within three years.

"Equatys will uniquely 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," added Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO, Viasat.

"By leveraging high-performance transparent satellite architectures and shared infrastructure, the network will deliver cost efficient capacity and use 5G new radio standards evolving the existing deployed MSS services, including, for example, the safety of air, land, and sea.”