A new Wired.com report explores Russia’s effort to build its own large-scale satellite internet constellation through a project called Rassvet, developed by the aerospace company Bureau 1440. Positioned as Russia’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink system, the initiative recently reached a major milestone with the launch of its first 16 broadband satellites into low Earth orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The deployment marks the transition from experimental testing to the early construction of a nationwide communications infrastructure.
According to Wired.com, the project aims to deliver broadband internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second with latency around 70 milliseconds. Russia plans to deploy at least 300 satellites by 2030, though some reports suggest the constellation could eventually grow much larger. Unlike Starlink, which prioritizes densely populated regions, Rassvet’s near-polar orbital configuration is intended to provide stable coverage across all of Russia, including remote Arctic territories and sparsely connected regions.
The article highlights the project’s dual-use nature. Analysts quoted by Wired.com argue that the constellation is clearly designed for military applications, particularly after Starlink demonstrated the strategic importance of satellite communications during the war in Ukraine. The launch through a military cosmodrome, combined with state funding from Russia’s Ministry of Communications and support from the Defense Ministry, reflects the government’s broader push for technological sovereignty and independent communications infrastructure.
Still, major obstacles remain. Experts interviewed by Wired.com note that Russia’s space industry has never demonstrated the manufacturing speed needed to mass-produce satellites at Starlink scale. Rassvet terminals are also reportedly larger and heavier than Starlink hardware, limiting ease of deployment. While the system represents a serious strategic investment, analysts believe it could take years and dozens of launches before Russia achieves reliable nationwide coverage.