Equatys, a $1 billion joint venture between Space42 and California-based Viasat, is building a network capable of connecting everyday devices, including smartphones, directly to satellites. Viasat will lead the technical buildout of a 2,800-satellite constellation, while Space42 brings coverage agreements across 160+ countries and relationships with 400+ mobile operators worldwide. The venture is targeting commercial operations in 2028.

Why This Matters

Building on a 2025 agreement, Equatys is the latest in a series of ambitious partnerships between Space42 and leading US firms. The UAE's AI-backed space firm also works with Microsoft, Esri, Leonardo DRS and Comtech Telecommunications Corp across technology and telecoms. Together, these partnerships position the UAE and US at the frontier of next-generation satellite connectivity.

“For the first time, the satellite industry is building infrastructure the way the mobile industry thinks: shared, interoperable, standards-based, and designed for billions of devices rather than millions of subscribers.” – Karim Michel Sabbagh, Managing Director, Space42