Russia has taken a significant step toward building its own sovereign satellite internet network. On March 23, the Russian Defense Ministry launched the first 16 satellites of the Rassvet broadband constellation into low Earth orbit [1][2]. The project, developed by Bureau 1440, aims to provide high-speed internet access across Russia with speeds up to 1 Gbps per user terminal and latency as low as 70 ms [5]. The launch marks the transition from the experimental phase to the creation of a commercial communication service [4].
A military launch with civilian ambitions
The launch took place at 8:24 pm Moscow time from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-2.1B rocket [2]. Notably, the launch was carried out by the Russian Defense Ministry, not by Roscosmos, the civilian space agency [6]. This underscores the dual-use nature of the project. Vladimir Putin called the launch "a great event" [7]. On the same day, Roscosmos director Dmitry Bakanov said the Cosmodrome would suffer "attempted attacks," though no further details were provided [8].
Funding and industrial scale
The Rassvet constellation is expected to have at least 300 satellites by 2030 [3]. Independent Russian press reports that the project has received 100 billion rubles from the Russian Ministry of Communications, with the company reportedly ready to invest another 300 billion rubles [9]. The real challenge, experts say, will be industrializing the system on a large scale—producing one or two satellites per week [18].
Technical specifications and comparison with Starlink
Rassvet satellites operate in low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 800 km, higher than Starlink's approximately 550 km [14]. Bureau 1440 has chosen a near-polar orbit with an inclination of 81.4 degrees, providing coverage over all of Russia [15]. The satellites are similar to Starlink but more comparable to OneWeb, as Rassvet is intended for commercial, state-owned, and government customers [17]. However, Rassvet terminals are several times larger and heavier than Starlink terminals, which may limit their deployment [19].
Corporate ties and intelligence links
Bureau 1440 was established in 2020 as a division of Megafon, initially named Megafon 1440 [10]. In 2022, the company changed its name to Bureau 1440 and was incorporated into Iks Holding [11]. Iks Holding is involved in the development of surveillance systems and internet blockers used in Russia to block online traffic and messaging platforms [12]. One of Iks Holding's top managers is the son of Russia's first deputy director of intelligence, Boris Korolev [13]. These ties highlight the project's strategic importance.
What to watch next
The Rassvet project reveals a direct link to the Russian government and is an infrastructure for digital sovereignty and future wars [20]. The next milestone will be scaling up satellite production and reducing terminal size to compete with Starlink. If successful, Russia could gain a powerful tool for both civilian connectivity and military communications.