On the Development of Satellite Communications in Russia

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has proposed allocating around 170 billion rubles (approximately $2.03 billion) from the federal budget’s surplus to maintain and expand the country’s geostationary communication and television satellites.

Minister Maksut Shadayev announced the initiative as part of discussions on the new three-year federal budget, emphasizing that it reflects a strategic priority: ensuring national sovereignty in space-based communications.

For 2025, the government has earmarked 44.4 billion rubles (about $532 million) for these purposes, with another 126.9 billion rubles (roughly $1.52 billion) planned between 2026 and 2028. These funds will supplement existing expenditures only if budget revenues exceed projections.

Shadayev pointed to positive momentum in Russia’s IT sector as a signal that such investments make sense. In the first half of 2025, the country’s IT industry grew by 15 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Employment in the sector now exceeds 1.1 million people, and average salaries have risen by nearly 12 percent.

The program aims to guarantee reliable communications and television broadcasting across Russia’s entire territory—including its most remote regions. This is vital for government services, the growth of the Internet of Things, and the country’s telecom infrastructure as a whole.