Your next phone upgrade could include a satellite connection

A new venture called Equatys, a collaboration between Space42, the UAE's space technology company, and Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, aims to extend mobile coverage to areas where terrestrial networks cannot reach. With up to $1 billion in backing, this innovative project promises to revolutionize connectivity in remote locations such as oceans, deserts, and mountain ranges.

Space42's Chief Operating Officer, Viktor Stoyanov, explained that the technology allows users to connect to satellites using their regular cell phones, without the need for bulky equipment or special hardware. This direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, backed by security and resilience, enables smartphones to communicate with satellites instead of nearby cell towers.

During a media visit to Space42's facility in Abu Dhabi, Ricky D’Souza, Presales - Product and Engineering, showcased how the company's satellite communications capabilities work. Their Thuraya-4 satellite, already in orbit, successfully enabled two-way texts and SOS alerts from a standard Android phone in the UAE.

Equatys adopts a shared infrastructure approach, pooling spectrum and satellite assets to provide D2D connectivity. Nermeen Negm, Vice President of Communications at Space42, emphasized that true D2D technology involves unmodified devices, which has not been achieved until now.

Consumer demand for D2D services is high, with a GSMA Intelligence survey revealing that 67% of mobile users across 10 countries are interested in these services, 55% are willing to pay extra for them, and 90% desire full coverage wherever they go. Space42's targets aim for full satellite coverage for calls and data by 2029, marking a significant step towards eliminating dead zones worldwide.