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Russia to Launch Starlink Rival Next Year
6 Jun
Summary
- Russia plans to launch its own satellite broadband system in 2027.
- A company called Bureau 1440 has already launched initial satellites.
- Starlink is currently banned in Russia.
Russia is preparing to introduce its own satellite broadband service, a smaller-scale alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink, with commercial operations slated for 2027. Alexei Shelobkov, CEO of Iks Holding, confirmed that development is underway and testing will commence shortly. Bureau 1440, a subsidiary of Iks Holding, has already launched its initial 16 low-orbit Rassvet satellites, with a long-term goal of deploying 900. This initiative aims to create a domestic satellite internet infrastructure.
The development occurs amidst reports suggesting Ukrainian drones have utilized SpaceX's Starlink for enhanced resilience against jamming during attacks on Russian industrial sites. Ukraine previously stated it was working with SpaceX to prevent Russia's alleged use of Starlink terminals for drone guidance. SpaceX currently operates over 10,000 satellites, far exceeding the planned constellation for Russia's new service. Notably, Starlink is prohibited within Russia, and unauthorized use of its equipment can result in fines.
