Abu Dhabi & Mountain View, California, May 11, 2026 – We’ve heard the promises for years: ubiquitous connectivity, no more dead zones, your smartphone working anywhere on Earth.
But often, these visions come with caveats—specialized devices, modified SIMs, or entirely new, complex infrastructure.
Today, a new partnership between UAE-based Space42 and global non-terrestrial network (NTN) service provider Skylo Technologies is cutting through the noise, delivering a standards-based, direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity solution that sounds almost too good to be true.
Space42 is an AI-powered SpaceTech company formed in 2024 from the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat. It is leveraging its geostationary satellite, Thuraya-4, for this game-changing integration.
Skylo is known as the architect of the “Standardized Sky,” brings its 3GPP-compliant NTN platform to the table.
The proof is already in: the companies have successfully demonstrated a bi-directional, real-time voice call completed over Thuraya-4 with no modified SIM and no changes to existing operator core infrastructure. Let that sink in for a moment. No new phone, no special card—just your existing mobile device, now connected in places it never could be before.
This isn’t just an experimental add-on; it’s designed as a fully integrated extension of existing mobile network architecture. For mobile carriers, this means they can seamlessly expand their coverage into rural, maritime, and notoriously remote regions without rebuilding their terrestrial networks. Devices authenticate through the same SIM and identity framework, crucially preserving the operator-customer relationship while dramatically boosting reach. For the end-user, the benefit is crystal clear: staying connected in areas that were previously digital black holes.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services at Space42, underscored the strategic importance, noting that this partnership advances Space42’s ambition “to become a global NTN leader.” He highlights the “interoperable connectivity layer that enables satellite and terrestrial networks to function as one unified system.” This isn’t a parallel universe for your phone; it’s an intelligent extension, built on universally accepted 3GPP standards and designed for long-term scale and resilience. The impact, as he puts it, is “immediately meaningful for the people and communities who depend on reliable connectivity.”
Parthsarathi Trivedi, Co-Founder and CEO at Skylo, echoed the sentiment, confirming that “the integration work is complete, and the service is ready to go live.”
He sees Space42’s decision to choose Skylo’s standards-based architecture as a validation of their vision for a “Standardized Sky” where satellites are a natural extension of mobile networks, not a separate, clunky system. This distinction is vital, as it promises to eliminate the friction that has historically plagued satellite-to-phone efforts.
Initial commercial deployment will roll out across Thuraya-4’s extensive coverage footprint, further cementing Skylo’s NTN presence across more than 37 countries.
The crucial next steps involve securing the necessary regulatory approvals and hammering out operator agreements in target markets, with a rolling deployment expected as clearances are obtained.
This partnership, between Space42 (a company integrating satellite communications, geospatial analytics, and AI for diverse global customers) and Skylo (a global NTN service provider headquartered in Mountain View, California, championing standards-based satellite connectivity), represents a genuine leap forward.
It’s a pragmatic, standards-driven solution to a persistent problem, promising to make truly ubiquitous mobile connectivity not just a marketing slogan, but a practical reality for millions.
Get ready for those “no service” messages to become a lot less common.
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