Space42 and Viasat Reach $1 Billion Network Connectivity Enhancement Platform Agreement

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The agreement arrangement disclosed on September 13 shows that UAE artificial intelligence space technology company Space42 and US satellite communications company Viasat have reached an agreement to further advance Equatys, with each party committing $400 million in initial equity investment, totaling $800 million. Space42 is also expected to add $200 million in investment in future equity financing rounds targeting third-party investors, further expanding its planned investment scale.

Equatys is positioned as a shared infrastructure platform connecting satellite and terrestrial communication networks, providing mobile operators with non-terrestrial network capabilities for direct-to-device connectivity. Space42 and Viasat have previously determined to adopt a 5G non-terrestrial network architecture based on 3GPP standards, enabling ordinary smartphones and IoT terminals to access satellite networks in areas not covered by terrestrial mobile networks, while also allowing satellite coverage to be overlaid in areas with existing terrestrial networks.

According to the technical architecture published by both parties, Equatys initially plans to use globally coordinated L-band and S-band mobile satellite service spectrum, with the available coordinated spectrum exceeding 100MHz. The platform adopts a shared infrastructure model similar to terrestrial communications tower companies, where satellite operators, mobile network operators, and other participants can jointly use satellites, ground infrastructure, and network capabilities, while each spectrum holder continues to retain its own spectrum rights and related obligations.

Viasat is expected to serve as the initial primary technology contractor for Equatys. Its work will involve next-generation L-band and S-band satellites and ground infrastructure, and will utilize satellite beamforming and phased array technologies to build non-terrestrial network capabilities. Viasat previously disclosed to investors that Equatys' foundational satellite and phased array technologies are also designed to support multi-orbit broadband services, compatible with Ka-band applications in geostationary orbit and low Earth orbit.

The construction of Equatys is not being proposed for the first time. Space42 and Viasat announced plans to form Equatys in September 2025; by March 2026, the two parties had already advanced corporate formation, engineering development, and preliminary commercial engagement with mobile network operators. Its system architecture is planned to deploy up to approximately 2,800 satellites, distributed across 60 orbital planes and three altitude layers, using a phased deployment approach.

Space42 disclosed in August this year that further progress has been made in the formation of Equatys, and the platform continues to be developed in the direction of a 5G NTN open architecture with global direct-to-device connectivity. Previously announced plans target commercial services around 2029. With the two parties now further clarifying the scale of equity investment, Equatys has moved from its previous formation and engineering development phase into a new phase with clear capital investment arrangements.