{
  "id": 9079038,
  "title": "Mobile ‘dead zones’ could be a thing of the past by end of decade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mobile-dead-zones-could-be-a-thing-of-the-past-by-end-of-decade-9079038",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/22/space42-aims-to-make-mobile-dead-zones-thing-of-the-past/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "By the end of the decade, mobile \"dead zones\" could become a thing of the past, according to Space42, a UAE-based space technology company. The company is developing direct-to-device technology that will allow regular smartphones to stay connected even when they travel beyond the range of conventional mobile networks. Viktor Stoyanov, COO of Smart Solutions at Space42, explained that this technology could provide connectivity in areas where 4G and 5G networks are weak, including at sea, in deserts, and in mountainous regions. The goal is for the transition between terrestrial and satellite networks to be almost imperceptible to users.\n\nSpace42 has partnered with Viasat to invest $1 billion in Equatys, a joint venture developing a global direct-to-device satellite network. This collaboration is part of a broader effort by Space42 to use satellites to address connectivity gaps and improve observation capabilities. Their Foresight constellation, which consists of five synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, can produce radar imagery at a resolution of up to 25cm. Unlike traditional optical satellites, SAR does not depend on sunlight and can still capture images even in conditions such as cloud cover, smoke, or dust. This capability allows SAR to \"see\" objects as small as 25cm and provide detailed visualizations of these objects on images.\n\nThe ability of SAR to detect conditions that traditional optical satellites cannot is described by Stoyanov as a \"superpower.\" He provided an example of SAR imagery showing an explosion site where smoke obstructed optical satellite views. The radar image allowed the team to locate and assess the damage caused by the explosion. Furthermore, Space42 is utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze repeated observations of the same location, enabling the system to detect changes over time. This approach, according to Christos Kolimenakis, ICEYE UAE's CEO and Space42's partner on the Foresight program, could transform Foresight into an advanced \"change detection machine.\"\n\nFor consumers, the most noticeable impact of this technology will likely be the elimination of mobile dead zones. Nermeen Negm, Space42's vice president of communications, compared this experience to the seamless transition from home Wi-Fi to a mobile network. By the end of the decade, she said, people might look back at mobile dead zones with the same perspective they now have towards life before Wi-Fi or Google Maps.",
  "summary": "The mobile “dead zone” could become a thing of the past by the end of the decade as satellites begin connecting directly to ordinary smartphones, Space42 has said. The UAE space technology company is developing direct-to-device technology designed to keep regular, unmodified phones connected when users travel beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks. Viktor Stoyanov, chief operating…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Mobile ‘dead zones’ could be a thing of the past by end of decade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mobile-dead-zones-could-be-a-thing-of-the-past-by-end-of-decade",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}