{
  "id": 16945075,
  "title": "Starlink push unites smaller satellite firms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/starlink-push-unites-smaller-satellite-firms",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-28T19:14:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/uae-canada-space-firms-in-alliance-as-nations-seek-starlink-alternatives/articleshow/135278675.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Canada’s Terrestar Solutions Inc. has teamed up with the UAE’s Space42 Plc and US-based Viasat Inc. to develop a global open standard for sharing satellite infrastructure. This collaboration aims to enhance connectivity for mobile devices in an era where Elon Musk’s Starlink is expanding its reach in wireless services. Terrestar, backed by the alternative asset manager Fortress Investment Group, will collaborate with Equatys, a joint venture launched last month by Viasat and Space42.\n\nThe memorandum of understanding between the firms was signed in Ottawa, during the visit of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan to Canada. According to the statement, this framework allows operators to retain full ownership and control of their assets, aiming to achieve global scale while preserving national sovereignty over critical communications infrastructure.\n\nThe push for a standardized satellite infrastructure comes amid Europe's intensified discussions to reduce dependence on the US, following recent restrictions on Ukrainian Starlink services. At the same time, the US is reportedly considering threats against Canadian sovereignty, prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to review vulnerabilities in the country’s telecommunications network. Canada has committed significant resources to Telesat Corp., which is planning its own low-Earth orbit constellation.\n\nTerrestar holds rights to Canadian capacity on a geostationary satellite owned by Echostar Corp., and it works with mobile network operators to eliminate no-service areas across the vast remote regions of Canada. The company is also developing a low-Earth orbit satellite system called CaStar, with an initial phase estimated at C$500 million, to expand coverage in rural and remote communities.\n\nIn September, Space42 and Viasat co-founded Equatys, committing up to $1 billion in equity to build infrastructure for direct-to-device and mobile-satellite services. Terrestar CEO Jacques Leduc explained the importance of a high density of satellites in low-Earth orbit to make the system work efficiently. Equatys aims to build a shared infrastructure in space using a common standard and spectrum band, appealing to mobile users in non-covered areas as they travel between locations.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Quartz",
        "title": "Canada's Terrestar is joining a UAE-U.S. push to build a Starlink rival",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/canadas-terrestar-is-joining-a-uae-u-s-push-to-build-a-starlink-rival",
        "published": "2026-10-28T12:20:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}