Canada’s mobile satellite services (MSS) operator Terrestar Solutions is joining Equatys shared infrastructure approach for direct-to-device (D2D) services under a new MoU announced Wednesday.
Equatys is the D2D venture founded by Viasat and Space42 to apply a tower company infrastructure model to satellite services. Terrestar is the first satellite operator aside from the co-founders to be a part of the venture.
Under the framework announced Wednesday, Terrestar’s planned constellation CaStar will interwork with the Equatys multi-system satellite infrastructure, while each operator retains ownership and control of its own assets.
Equatys described it as a “sovereign shell” approach where multiple constellations for specific countries or regions with their own ground systems are built to common standards to be fully interoperable. “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,” the release said.
Terrestar holds the license to 20 MHz of of MSS spectrum in Canada. It is licensed to provide national MSS service and national cellular service using the frequencies 2000 – 2020 MHz and 2180 – 2200 MHz. It has held the license since 2014 and the company owns the Echostar T1 Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite.
Terrestar has not announced a prime contractor for the planned CaStar constellation. Terrestar President and CEO Jacques Leduc pointed to the agreement combining “national sovereignty with global reach.”
“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,” Leduc commented.
Equatys brings together 100 MHz of combined MSS spectrum from Space42 and Viasat. The two parties have committed a combined $1 billion in equity. The full Equatys system is planned to be 2,800 satellites.
Viasat Mark Dankberg said during World Space Business Week that the system will start with less than 200 satellites and be able to provide continuous coverage, then scale with demand. Viasat is intended to be the prime contractor for the satellites, and the intent is to offer service by the end of 2029.
