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ZAWYA: Space42 and Viasat shared progress on Equatys at Mobile World Congress
ZAWYA: Space42 and Viasat shared progress on Equatys at Mobile World Congress
About this update from Space42 Plc
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, discussed continued progress toward their planned direct-to-device (D2D) infrastructure and offered an early look at the priorities for Equatys, the companies' forthcoming joint entity, during a co-hosted program at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week. The program marked the first public showcase of Equatys' technical direction and commercial vision, reflecting its ambition to accelerate global D2D adoption. This event brought together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to explore how competition, resilience, and sovereignty can be advanced simultaneously, along with enabling new business cases, turning space-enabled mobility into a shared success story for all.Space42 and Viasat are the cofounders of Equatys, bringing together over 60 years of combined mobile satellite services experience. Equatys is designed as an independent, neutral, multi-participant shared infrastructure platform to extend 3GPP-based connectivity to the billions underserved by terrestrial networks. Since announcing Equatys in September 2025, the cofounders have advanced the program across initiation of venture formation, engineering development, and initial commercial engagement with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), marking concrete progress toward phased deployment.Mark Dankberg, CEO and Chairman of Viasat, said: "Space-enabled mobility is a foundational layer for global, seamless connectivity. With Equatys, we are building a platform that empowers nations, operators, and innovators to extend secure, affordable, 3GPP-aligned satellite connectivity to billions. This scalable global model ensures the full ecosystem of participants can benefit from lower barriers to entry, expanded supplier diversity and economies of scale, and stronger competitive dynamics across the value chain. We are committed to delivering a frictionless end-user experience with seamless handover enabling choice for the carriers. "Karim Michel Sabbagh, Managing Director of Space42, said: "Equatys reflects disciplined execution against a clear objective: combining the scale of terrestrial networks with the efficiency of space. The collaboration is rooted in Space42's strategy to become a global leader in Non-Terrestrial Networks, and to date has a...