UAE’s Space42 Signs Satellite MoU With Viasat, Canada’s Terrestar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Space42, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based artificial intelligence (AI)-powered SpaceTech company, United States satellite firm Viasat Inc and Canada’s Terrestar Solutions Inc have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop an open, standards-based framework linking their planned satellite networks for direct-to-device (D2D) mobile services.

The MoU was signed during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s official visit to Canada, where he held talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The framework would link Terrestar’s planned Canadian low-Earth orbit constellation, CaStar, with Equatys, a planned global shared platform for D2D and other mobile-satellite services (MSS). Space42 and Viasat signed a binding agreement in September to co-found Equatys, backed by up to US$1 billion in combined equity commitments. (US$1 = RM4.07)

Each operator would keep ownership and control of its satellites, ground infrastructure and customers, with CaStar operating as a sovereign Canadian system that keeps domestic data within Canadian jurisdiction, Space42 said in a statement.

“This MoU demonstrates how sovereign satellite systems and shared global infrastructure can work together to deliver D2D services globally. Terrestar maintains its position as Canada’s independent MSS operator while exploring how to participate in a broader ecosystem,” said Space42 Managing Director, Karim Michel Sabbagh.

The company said the arrangement is the first example of Equatys’s “sovereign shell” approach, combining a global system with national or regional constellations run by trusted local operators, and is expected to reduce costs and improve coordination between systems.

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the MoU reflected the UAE’s deepening trade and investment links with Canada, including the newly signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Space42 said the framework is designed to accommodate additional satellite systems, mobile network operators and service providers over time.

-- BERNAMA