TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Equatys, the U.S.-based Viasat and Emirati satellite operator Space42\u2019s shared space infrastructure joint venture for direct-to-device (D2D) services, has gained its first mobile network partner as it seeks to challenge SpaceX\u2019s growing lead in the emerging market.<\/p>\n
The companies said Oct. 14 the telecoms arm of the United Arab Emirates\u2019 e& has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore how their planned space-based service could connect devices beyond terrestrial infrastructure within three years.<\/p>\n
The companies agreed to pursue collaboration across four main areas:<\/p>\n
Technical integration: Aligning network infrastructure to enable seamless handover between terrestrial and satellite systems, developing new standardized non-terrestrial network (NTN) capabilities.<\/p>\n
Regulatory and security cooperation: Coordinating licensing, spectrum allocation and data privacy to meet regional and international standards.<\/p>\n
Research and development: Running joint innovation labs and pilot programs to test interoperability with existing 4G and 5G networks.<\/p>\n
Strategic initiatives and growth: Creating a joint product roadmap and exploring investment programs across e&\u2019s footprint spanning 38 markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.<\/p>\n
Sovereignty-friendly alternative<\/p>\n
Announced in September, Equatys would combine more than 100 megahertz (MHz) of harmonized Mobile Satellite Spectrum (MSS) already allocated across over 160 countries.<\/p>\n
The companies say their multi-tenant \u201cspace tower\u201d model would mirror the cost and efficiency benefits of shared cellular tower infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Equatys is also being styled as a sovereignty-friendly alternative to SpaceX, with executives emphasizing how it would work through existing national spectrum allocations<\/a> to give governments more control over compliance and licensing.<\/p>\n SpaceX\u2019s momentum has nonetheless reshaped the market in recent weeks.<\/p>\n