Tricolor Upgrades Broadcasting System
Under the Tricolor Federal project, the signal is now transmitted from a new orbital position at 75 degrees east longitude.
Satellite television in Russia is unlikely to lose its relevance. Across the country’s vast territory there are many remote and hard-to-reach areas, as well as sparsely populated settlements where deploying terrestrial infrastructure is economically impractical. In such environments, space-based technologies provide a practical solution. Satellite services therefore continue to evolve and improve.
Recently the operator Tricolor announced the launch of a new project called Tricolor Federal. The initiative focuses on expanding satellite infrastructure. Broadcasting is now delivered from a new orbital position at 75 degrees east longitude. A single satellite can now provide coverage across nearly the entire territory of Russia.
Subscribers will receive access not only to a wide range of television channels but also to the Tricolor Kino i TV online cinema platform, personalized discounts in the company’s online store and offers from its loyalty program. Company representatives note that the key advantage of the new project is the balance between subscription cost and the amount of content available to users. The channel lineup will include the most popular news, sports, drama, entertainment and science programming.
“Broadcasting from the new orbital position allows us to improve the stability of Tricolor’s service and cover nearly the entire territory of Russia using a single satellite,” said Oleg Struchkovsky, commercial director of the operator. “Due to an abnormal situation involving the Express-AT1 satellite, we quickly developed an action plan. In regions where it is technically possible, we offer customers the option to realign their antennas and retune equipment to the satellite at 36 degrees. For regions outside that satellite’s coverage area, we are launching Tricolor Federal.”
Building an Ecosystem
It is worth recalling that Tricolor is the largest paid satellite TV operator in Russia. The launch of the new project therefore carries significance for the entire country. Subscribers will gain access to improved service quality. This is particularly important for residents of the Arctic, Siberia and the Russian Far East.
At the same time, in today’s market the focus is no longer limited to providing television access alone. To compete with other telecom providers, operators increasingly need to offer a full ecosystem that includes an online cinema platform, e-commerce services and other subscription-based digital products.
A New Communication Station
Achieving these goals requires continuous infrastructure modernization. In 2025, Tricolor began constructing its own satellite earth station. The facility is designed to provide full control over the generation and transmission of television signals, improving reliability and protection from external interference. Approximately 400 million rubles (about $4.8 million) have already been invested in the project. The investment is intended to strengthen Russia’s technological sovereignty in the provision of television distribution services.
Digital Services Reach the Arctic
Last autumn Tricolor also began implementing an ambitious infrastructure project together with the operator Beeline in Russia’s Arctic region. In October residents of the settlement of Nes gained access to television and mobile communications. Both services operate through a satellite communications channel.
“Our project in Nes demonstrates that modern satellite communication technologies can provide reliable coverage where traditional infrastructure is unavailable or unable to ensure stable operation,” said Daniil Nirman, head of the Tricolor Internet division. “Our mission is to make connectivity accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.”
Russia’s satellite technologies also have significant export potential. These solutions can be deployed in countries where building terrestrial infrastructure is difficult due to geography or economic constraints. Additional momentum may come from Russia’s Sfera program, which aims to expand the country’s satellite constellation.
