Terrestar Solutions joins with Equatys, expanding shared satellite infrastructure for global direct-to-device and advanced MSS connectivity while preserving national sovereignty
Terrestar Solutions joins with Equatys, expanding shared satellite infrastructure for global direct-to-device and advanced MSS connectivity while preserving national sovereignty |
| [28-October-2026] |
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite and secure communications, and Terrestar Solutions Inc., Canada's only sovereign mobile-satellite services operator, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing an open, standards-based interoperability framework between Terrestar's planned Canadian low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, CaStar, and Equatys, a planned global shared infrastructure platform for direct-to-device (D2D) services and other advanced Mobile-Satellite Services (MSS). The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the official visit of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Canada, where His Highness attended talks with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada.
The framework is intended to allow the two systems, together with their respective ground segments, to interwork as a coordinated multi-system non-terrestrial network (NTN) infrastructure, while each operator retains full ownership and control of its own assets. This approach is designed to enable global scale while preserving national sovereignty over critical communications infrastructure. The MoU advances a partnership model that would combine Terrestar's position as a Canadian-controlled and Canadian-operated MSS provider with Equatys' role as a shared, multi-tenant, interoperable global infrastructure enabling D2D and advanced MSS services in a 5G network environment. The collaboration between Equatys's founders and Terrestar is the first example of Equatys's "sovereign shell" approach that combines a global commercial system with constellations optimized for specific countries or regions, each with their dedicated ground segment and run by a trusted local operator, built to common standards that keep them fully interoperable. Rather than relying on proprietary, point-to-point integration, the parties intend to define a common, open, and standards-based interoperability layer. This approach is expected to foster collaboration, drive adoption, reduce capital and operational expenditures, and enable better coordination of power, beams, capacity, and ground gateway access among participating systems. Today's announcement comes after Space42 and Viasat signed a binding agreement in September 2026 to co-found Equatys, backed by up to USD 1 billion in combined equity commitments. Speaking on the occasion, Karim Michel Sabbagh, Managing Director of Space42, said: "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. We are introducing a model where national capabilities and international collaboration reinforce rather than compete with one another." Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, said: "By advancing a global, standards-based open architecture with an interoperability framework via a shared infrastructure model, we are continuing to expand an ecosystem that will be uniquely positioned to drive mass adoption within the significant D2D and next-generation MSS market. This collaboration with Terrestar underscores Equatys' innovative approach to offer a foundation for choice and interoperability and provide compelling economic benefits from geographic and spectral efficiencies to participating global, regional, and national space operators. Equatys is committed to working across the global space industry, as well as with the broader ecosystem including MNOs, OEMs, chipset vendors, regulators and standards bodies." Jacques Leduc, President and CEO of Terrestar Solutions, said: "The future of mobile satellite connectivity won't be built by countries or constellations acting alone. It will be built through open standards-based networks that combine national sovereignty with global reach, positioning us to compete at scale. While working hand-in-hand with the Canadian space ecosystem, CaStar is Canada's contribution to that future: Canadian-controlled, globally connected, and built to work with other mid-power countries like Canada. We look forward to helping build a truly global network together with our partners at Space42 and Viasat. Terrestar's ambition is to seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial mobile networks, bringing connectivity to everyday devices. Our goal is to make mobile satellite connectivity a reality for every Canadian, wherever they live, work, or travel around the world. This MoU is just the beginning." His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said: "The UAE's deepening trade and investment links with Canada, embodied in the newly signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, are laying the foundations for long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations in critical sectors. The memorandum of understanding between Space42, Viasat and Terrestar Solutions is a clear example, bringing together companies from the UAE, the United States and Canada to develop shared, standards-based infrastructure for the next generation of satellite connectivity. Collaboration of this kind reflects the UAE's vision of deeper economic integration, where partnership drives innovation that can cross borders, scale quickly and attract long-term capital." Partnership Framework The MoU reflects a shift away from closed, single-operator satellite systems toward an open standards-based model, in which independent constellations can interwork as a coordinated multi-system NTN infrastructure. Under the proposed framework, the parties would define a common standardized interoperability layer linking their respective space and ground segments. This layer would rely on published, vendor-neutral interfaces aligned with 3GPP NTN specifications, GSMA roaming and interconnection frameworks, and other recognized industry standards, avoiding proprietary lock-in. Each participating operator would retain control of its own space and ground assets, authorizations and customer relationships, interacting with other systems only through agreed interfaces. Within that boundary, each system would make defined resources and capabilities, such as power, beams and gateway access, available to the others, supported by common mechanisms for resource requests, allocation, monitoring, usage accounting and settlement. The framework is also designed to respect national sovereignty and security. System infrastructure serving a given jurisdiction could be located and operated to meet local regulatory, security and lawful access requirements. In Canada, for example, the CaStar constellation would operate as a sovereign national system, with Canadian gateways and ground network keeping domestic data within Canadian jurisdiction, while interworking with Equatys at a global scale. Finally, the framework is intended to be extensible, to accommodate additional satellite systems, mobile network operators and service providers over time, and evolve with successive releases of industry standards. About Equatys For more information, visit www.equatys.com About SPACE42 For more information, visit: space42.ai LinkedIn: Space42ai About Viasat About Terrestar Solutions Legal Notice and Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information This announcement contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions about future events that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements—identified by terms such as "expect," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "designed," "target" or similar—are subject to risks and uncertainties and may prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the formation of Equatys; the timing and amount of the parties' respective equity contributions; the enabling of global D2D and advanced mobile satellite services, including the timing of commercial rollout; the procurement, design, manufacture, launch and deployment of Equatys' first-generation constellation and related ground network; the design, business model, features, performance and benefits of the Equatys platform; the investment framework, including expected benefits, risks and returns; the closing of definitive agreements, including the satisfaction of regulatory and other closing conditions; and plans, objectives and strategies for future operations. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks and uncertainties related to the formation of Equatys and the closing of definitive agreements, including the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals; the failure to satisfy the closing conditions on a timely basis or at all; the parties' ability to fund their respective equity commitments; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, launch, operational or deployment failure or degradation in satellite performance; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers, suppliers or ecosystem partners; the ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; increasing levels of competition in target markets; the ability for Equatys to successfully implement its business plan on the anticipated timeline or at all; regulatory risks; and other risks affecting the communications and D2D industries generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The parties undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
SOURCE Terrestar Solutions Inc. | ||
Company Codes: AbuDhabi:SPACE42,NASDAQ:VSAT,NASDAQ-GS:VSAT |
