The Russian aerospace company “Bureau 1440” has successfully launched the first batch of satellites for its “Rassvet” low-orbit communications constellation. At the end of March, 16 satellites built on the company’s own platform reached orbit.

“This is the first step toward creating a global communications infrastructure,” said Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of IKS Holding. “We’re looking at dozens more launches and over 250 satellites in total to provide 24/7 global coverage.”

Commercial satellite internet service is expected to launch in 2027. A new era of global connectivity from Russia is on the horizon!

This system is designed as a sovereign alternative to Star Link that will have both civilian and military applications. Russia already has excellent internet coverage but for those working in the harshest and most remote locations in the country will see it as a Godsend. By delivering high-speed, low-latency internet (up to 1 Gbps with ~50-70 ms latency) to remote and underserved regions of Siberia and the Arctic—where fiber optics are impractical—Rassvet can unlock critical economic development in resource extraction, logistics, and environmental monitoring.

Furthermore, the system enhances national security by providing a rigid, domestically controlled communication backbone for military operations and emergency response, reducing reliance on foreign networks like Starlink. With substantial government funding and a clear roadmap to expand to hundreds of satellites by the late 2020s, Rassvet also fosters domestic innovation in laser link technology and 5G-NTN integration, positioning Russia as a competitive player in the global LEO broadband market while creating high-tech jobs and driving advancements in satellite manufacturing.