Russia’s Bureau 1440 Moves Ahead with LEO Broadband System to Rival Starlink
With support from Roscosmos and a growing domestic tech base, Russia’s new satellite constellation targets 97% national coverage by 2030.
Russia is accelerating the deployment of its own LEO broadband constellation in a move aimed at reducing dependency on foreign internet infrastructure and expanding connectivity across its vast territory. The system, developed by private aerospace firm Bureau 1440, is being positioned as a national counterpart—and in some ways, a competitor—to SpaceX’s Starlink.
The initiative has moved beyond the conceptual stage. In July 2023, Bureau 1440 completed its first successful data transmission via three test satellites (Rassvet-1), achieving an initial downlink speed of 10 Mbps. Within a year, engineers had increased throughput to 1 Gbps—demonstrating parity with Starlink’s theoretical top speed, but in live conditions. Further 5G-standard transmission tests were carried out with Rassvet-2 later that year.
Network Architecture and Deployment
Unlike Starlink’s extensive fleet of over 6,000 satellites in orbits ranging from 335–570 km, Bureau 1440 plans to operate a leaner constellation of just 292 satellites at 800 km altitude in the early phase. The orbital network is expected to expand to more than 900 satellites by 2035. According to the developers, this more efficient configuration enables Starlink-like performance with fewer hardware assets, simplifying deployment and lowering OPEX.
Launch support is provided by Russia’s federal space agency, Roscosmos, which allocates slots on its launch vehicles for satellite deployment. The system is being designed to integrate with mobile operators via terrestrial backhaul, extending connectivity to underserved areas through existing base station infrastructure.
Domestic Components and Sanctions Resilience
The $4.9 billion (445 billion rubles) project reflects both economic ambition and strategic necessity. Of the total cost, roughly 74% is funded by Bureau 1440 itself, with the remainder supported by the Russian federal budget. Notably, the company is targeting 70% domestic content in its technology stack, limiting exposure to international sanctions and supply chain disruptions.
Terminal Strategy and User Access
Bureau 1440 is also focused on terminal development, aiming to deliver simple, self-contained units requiring no technical installation. The company is engineering both stationary and mobile variants—including versions suitable for aircraft and trains—making the system attractive for both fixed-site and mobility use cases.
An agreement is already in place with a major Russian telecom operator to use satellite backhaul at approximately 500 mobile base stations by 2027. The company expects additional operators to join once commercial services are live.
Strategic Implications
While still in its early stages, the system represents a significant shift in Russia’s communications infrastructure. What was once dismissed by critics as an unrealistic ambition is now backed by working technology and a concrete deployment roadmap. For a nation under sanctions and facing restricted access to Western space technologies, the project signals a growing push for digital sovereignty through domestic satellite innovation.
