# A New Chapter in Satellite Connectivity: Viasat and Space42 Forge Shared D2D Infrastructure Venture
The satellite communications industry is entering a pivotal phase of evolution, one where collaboration and shared infrastructure are beginning to replace the traditional model of isolated, vertically integrated networks. In a landmark move, two major players in the space and satellite sector have committed to pooling their resources and expertise into a single, shared venture designed to transform how devices connect to networks from orbit.
## Breaking Down Silos in Satellite Communications
For years, direct-to-device satellite services have operated largely in isolation, with each operator responsible for building and maintaining its own constellation, ground infrastructure, and service ecosystem. While this approach has its merits, it has also created significant barriers to entry, limited scalability, and driven up costs for everyone from device manufacturers to end users.
The new venture, which represents a binding commitment between Viasat and Space42, takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than duplicating infrastructure, the two companies are proposing a shared platform — a neutral layer of satellite and ground-based systems that multiple operators and service providers could leverage. This concept mirrors the tower-company model that has long underpinned terrestrial cellular networks, where operators share physical infrastructure while maintaining independent control over their spectrum licenses, customer relationships, and service offerings.
## Adapting a Proven Model for the Space Age
What makes this initiative particularly compelling is how it translates a well-understood terrestrial concept into the orbital domain. In traditional cellular networks, tower companies allow multiple mobile carriers to share base stations and antenna infrastructure without requiring each carrier to erect its own towers. This reduces redundancy, accelerates deployment, and lowers costs across the board.
Equatys, as the venture is named, aims to replicate that efficiency in the satellite world. Licensed operators would gain access to a common constellation and ground network, enabling them to offer direct-to-device satellite services without the enormous capital outlay required to build and launch their own satellites. The platform would also be open to additional satellite operators and spectrum holders beyond the two founding companies, creating the potential for a much broader ecosystem of participants.
This architecture deliberately separates the ownership and operation of space-based infrastructure from the services delivered over it. In practice, this means that a regional operator or a spectrum rights holder could tap into the shared satellite network without needing to assume the full economic and operational burden of deploying an independent constellation from scratch.
## A Commitment Worth Up to $1 Billion
The financial commitment behind the venture is substantial. Each of the two founding companies plans to contribute $400 million in equity upon formation, with one of them also expected to inject an additional $200 million during a later funding round that would welcome third-party investors. That brings the potential combined founder contribution to a remarkable $1 billion.
Beyond this initial capital, the venture is expected to pursue additional equity and debt financing as the system matures and expands. One of the founding companies is also positioned to serve as the prime technology contractor once the venture is formally operationalized, giving it a central role in the engineering and construction of the shared infrastructure.
## Scaling From a Single Deployment to Thousands of Satellites
The initial satellite deployment is designed to be the first building block of a much larger architecture. The long-term vision includes a constellation of up to 2,800 satellites distributed across 60 orbital planes and three distinct altitude layers. Critically, the design is meant to accommodate progressive densification — additional satellites can be added over time as demand grows, without requiring a fundamental redesign of the system.
This scalability is essential for a platform intended to serve diverse use cases, from consumer smartphone connectivity in remote areas to the monitoring of logistics fleets, transportation assets, and industrial infrastructure spread across vast geographic regions.
## Implications for the IoT Landscape
The Internet of Things stands to benefit significantly from the kind of shared infrastructure this venture represents. Many IoT deployments — whether tracking shipping containers, monitoring remote pipelines, or enabling connected vehicles — depend on connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks are sparse or nonexistent. Today, these devices often require a separate satellite communication module, a distinct SIM, and an entirely different service agreement.
A shared, standards-based satellite network could change that equation entirely. By aligning with 3GPP non-terrestrial network standards, the platform would enable IoT devices to connect to satellites using the same protocols and relationships they already use for terrestrial cellular service. For device manufacturers, this means fewer separate connectivity stacks to integrate. For enterprises, it simplifies the operational complexity of managing devices that move between urban networks and satellite coverage zones.
In practical terms, a logistics company could equip its assets with standard cellular modules that seamlessly hand over to satellite connectivity when moving into areas without ground coverage — all through the same carrier relationship. This kind of continuity would be a game-changer for industries that depend on real-time visibility across sprawling, hard-to-reach territories.
## Frequently Asked Questions
**What is Equatys?**
Equatys is a shared satellite and ground infrastructure venture created through a binding agreement between Viasat and Space42. It is designed to provide a neutral, multi-operator platform for direct-to-device satellite services and advanced mobile satellite connectivity.
**How does the tower-company model apply to satellites?**
Just as tower companies in terrestrial cellular networks allow multiple carriers to share physical infrastructure while keeping their own spectrum and customers, Equatys aims to provide shared satellite and ground infrastructure that licensed operators can use without building their own constellations.
**Who can use Equatys?**
The platform is intended to be open to multiple mobile operators, satellite operators, and spectrum holders. It is not restricted to the two founding companies.
**What standards does the platform use?**
Equatys is being built around 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards, which are the same standards used for cellular connectivity on Earth. This allows conventional smartphones and IoT devices to connect to satellites natively.
**How much funding has been committed?**
The two founding companies plan to contribute up to $1 billion in combined equity, with additional third-party equity and debt financing expected as the system develops.
**What does the satellite architecture look like?**
The long-term plan envisions up to 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes and three altitude layers, designed to support progressive expansion without requiring a system overhaul.
**Why is this important for IoT?**
Shared satellite infrastructure would allow IoT devices to maintain a single connectivity relationship across both terrestrial and satellite networks, reducing integration complexity and enabling seamless coverage in remote or underserved areas.
**When will Equatys be operational?**
The venture has moved beyond the conceptual stage with a binding agreement and funding framework in place. However, the constellation deployment and full operational capability will depend on completion of formation, regulatory approvals, and the execution of associated definitive agreements.
## Conclusion
The formation of Equatys represents a significant departure from the traditional satellite industry playbook. By embracing a shared infrastructure model, Viasat and Space42 are not only reducing the barriers to satellite connectivity but also laying the groundwork for a more collaborative and accessible satellite ecosystem. For the IoT sector, this could mean a future where satellite connectivity is no longer a separate, specialized add-on but rather a seamless extension of the cellular networks devices already rely on every day.
The coming years will be critical as the venture moves from binding agreement to active deployment, and as the industry watches to see whether the tower-company model can succeed in orbit just as it has on the ground.
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