UAE’s Space42 and California-based global satellite internet company Viasat will together take a major step towards expanding global satellite connectivity by jointly exploring ecosystem partnership options to develop a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) initiative.
The partnership enables both companies to address the growing opportunities in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications to smartphones – a market that is expected to reach $50 billion in 2032 – narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), and existing and future mobile satellite services (MSS).
Space42 and Viasat partnership
It will also help serve the more traditional enterprise and government MSS market segments that also hold substantial growth potential.
NTNs are wireless communication systems that operate above the Earth’s surface, using platforms in the air and in Earth’s orbit. These include satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary orbit (GEO), as well as high-altitude platforms (HAPS) and drones. NTNs are not solely reliant on Earth’s terrestrial infrastructure for connectivity.
During the first phase of this partnership, Space42 and Viasat will conduct a series of partner-funded technical and commercial studies to develop a shared, or multi-tenant, multi-orbit 5G NTN infrastructure, employing a standards-based open architecture.
The infrastructure is intended to support use of a broad range of L-band, S-band and terrestrial spectrum to enable global roaming among regional network operators.
The companies are exploring new technologies and sustainable system designs to make satellite networks more efficient and ready for 5G models and ensure compliance with the varying telecommunications regulatory frameworks of nations around the world.
The collaboration follows the industry’s best practices and guidelines developed by the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA). It leverages licensed MSS satellite spectrum and open interoperable architectures based on 3GPP standards to ensure seamless integration with global networks.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO, Yahsat Space Services, Space42, commented: “Our collaboration with Viasat marks a transformative step in advancing global satellite connectivity through an open and scalable architecture. By fostering an ecosystem built on shared innovation, interoperability, and open standards, we are unlocking new possibilities in direct-to-device (D2D), IoT, and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS).
“This partnership accelerates time to market, drives cost efficiency, and ensures seamless integration with existing and future networks. Together, we are building an inclusive, future-ready infrastructure that empowers industries, governments, and communities worldwide.”
Mark Dankberg, CEO and Chairman of Viasat, added: “We firmly believe that the benefits of space are for the many, and not just the few. Our announcement with Space42 is an important further step in our capital efficient growth strategy to build a powerful ecosystem of partners dedicated to future innovation in space based on open 5G standards and scalable architecture.
“In parallel with our recent agreement with European Space Agency (ESA), our partnership with Space42 will further enable work on a next-generation infrastructure leveraging innovative designs based on 5G NTN standards, all while building on a growing coalition of public and private sector partners dedicated to keeping space secure, open and accessible for all.”
A key goal of this partnership is to develop an open-architecture space system that is scalable and fosters global collaboration across public and private sector partners, and taps into significant global growth opportunities in the global satellite market.
The announcement also builds on Viasat’s new alliance with the ESA to further accelerate the development and deployment of NTN D2D systems using MSS spectrum to serve Europe and the world.
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