Space42 vs Viasat: Communications constellations compared

Scores, Space (of 10)

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Space42 is a UAE satellite operator (ADX:SPACE42, the Yahsat-Bayanat merger entity, ~$700M revenue class) combining a GEO fleet, geospatial AI, and Thuraya mobility services. It formed the EQUATYS joint venture with Viasat (May 2026) for shared-spectrum direct-to-device (up to 2,800 satellites, Viasat as initial technology prime), the Gulf sovereign-capital entry into D2D. The current revenue marker is dated (verified-light; a dedicated filings pass owed).

Latest signals

• 16 Sept 2026Viasat and Space42 commit up to $1B to establish Equatys joint venture for satellite-and-ground infrastructurePayload
• 14 Sept 2026Space42 and Viasat sign $1 billion network connectivity enhancement platform agreement36Kr newsflashes
• 29 Jul 2026LatConnect 60 partnered with Space42 to integrate SWIRSAT data into an AI-powered geospatial-intelligence platform.SpaceNews

9 signals name Space42.

Facts, with sources

• 16 Sept 2026Viasat and Space42 committed up to $1 billion to establish the Equatys joint venture for satellite and ground infrastructurewww.powerelectronicsnews.com — 2026-09-16
• 14 Sept 2026Space42 and Viasat signed a $1 billion network connectivity enhancement platform agreementrsshub.bkraju.com — 2026-09-14
• 12 Aug 2026Space42 signed a sovereign national security deal with Leonardo DRS to boost security across the UAEVia Satellite

16 facts on file.

Scores, Space (of 10)

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Viasat is a US satellite-communications company (FY26 record revenue of $4.64B, +2.7%; awards $4.9B) with all three ViaSat-3 satellites launched, though its F1 flagship operates at under 10% of design capacity after an antenna anomaly. It has 4,450 commercial aircraft in-flight-connectivity systems in service (+10%, a 1,000-aircraft backlog) and 1,315 NexusWave vessels, though its maritime business did not turn the corner per the CFO. Its forward story is the Equatys D2D shared-spectrum venture with Space42 (up to 2,800 satellites, Viasat as initial technology prime).

Latest signals

• 13 Oct 2026SES selected Lyntris as payload integrator for its PTS-G satellite work.Via Satellite
• 13 Oct 2026Viasat ordered multiple ALL.SPACE Hydra MAX terminals for resilient multi-orbit satellite communications.Satellite Evolution
• 23 Sept 2026Viasat awarded $42 million task order for Marine Corps managed satcom servicesVia Satellite

38 signals name Viasat.

Facts, with sources

• 1 Jan 2029Space Compass SC-A commercial optical data relay mission planned for completionSpaceNews
• 1 Jan 2028Inmarsat-8 L-band safety communications and SBAS navigation mission planned for completionSpaceNews
• 1 Jan 2027Sixth HummingSat order; platform scheduled for on-orbit debut on the Intelsat 45 missionSpaceNews

60 facts on file.