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- Digital Dawn: how the "Russian response to Starlink" will change the lives of millions of people
Digital Dawn: how the "Russian response to Starlink" will change the lives of millions of people
Russia is the largest country in the world by area, and this colossal territory is not only the main wealth of the country, but also a serious challenge from an infrastructural point of view. One of the key tasks facing the state is to provide citizens with high—quality communications, regardless of the distance and size of the settlement. The solution may be the creation of a low-orbit satellite constellation "Dawn", which has already been dubbed the Russian answer to the Starlink system. What the new technology will give Russia is in the Izvestia article.
Stitching space
Providing high—quality stable communications in hard-to-reach regions is a task of enormous complexity and cost. It's not just a matter of profitability: in some areas, it's physically impossible to lay land-based networks.
Low-orbit satellites that provide minimal signal delay can be an effective solution to the problem, making them ideal for high-speed broadband communications in hard-to-reach areas and in transport. In Russia, the project of the low-orbit satellite constellation Rassvet, which has already been dubbed the Russian answer to Elon Musk's Starlink system, is based on this technology.
However, this is not just an attempt to create a domestic equivalent, it is a comprehensive strategic initiative aimed at overcoming digital inequality, strengthening the country's technological sovereignty and creating new opportunities for the population and businesses.
The creation of the Rassvet satellite constellation, with the support of the state and coordination from Roscosmos, is being carried out by the Bureau 1440 aerospace company (part of X Holding). The mission stated on the company's website is to create a future connection without borders on Earth, using and developing the best practices of the engineering school in space.
The system is based on inter-satellite laser communication. This technology makes it possible to create a fiber-optic network in space without wires, which minimizes dependence on ground stations and significantly reduces signal delay during long-distance transmission. It is expected that this will provide broadband access to satellite Internet with global coverage 24/7.
The height of the orbit on which the Rassvet devices operate is about 800 km, which reduces the number of satellites needed to cover the area of Russia.
The first communication session between the spacecraft and a subscriber terminal of its own design using 5G NTN technologies
The adapted 5G NTN protocol ("extraterrestrial networks") is used to communicate with subscribers on Earth. It is assumed that this will allow you to connect to the Internet through special terminals, even from ordinary smartphones.
An important feature of the "Dawn" is that the project is sovereign. The key elements of the system will be under Russian control — the satellites themselves, the ground infrastructure, the frequency regime, and traffic routing. This will ensure the stability and independence of the system.
Mass access to broadband within the framework of the project is expected in 2027, and the system has been consistently deployed for several years. Bureau 1440 was founded in December 2020. In June 2023, three experimental satellites were launched into orbit as part of the Rassvet-1 mission. And at the end of March 2026, the first 16 satellites of the future target group were launched.
Flight Control Center Bureau 1440
By 2027, according to the plan, the number of spacecraft in orbit should exceed 250. In the future, by 2035, the group may grow to 900 satellites, which will ensure stable coverage not only of Russia, but also of a significant part of the entire planet.
Digital equality
Providing the population with a stable connection is one of the key objectives of the project. In April 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out the importance of organizing Internet access for residents of small towns, emphasizing that high-quality communication is especially needed in conditions of floods and other emergencies.
In Russia, the number of potential subscribers of Bureau 1440 is estimated at 1.5–2 million people. With the technology expanding to the whole world, the number of users can reach up to 12 million.
In the modern digital age, the availability of uninterrupted Internet is becoming a matter of survival — the availability of public services, medicine, education and work depends on it. A full-fledged launch of the Rassvet system can be a social lift for the Russian countryside. The advent of satellite communications will allow schoolchildren from remote villages to study according to the capital's programs with the best teachers. At the same time, any resident will be able to remotely consult with specialized healthcare specialists who simply do not exist in their region, get a transcript of the tests or relevant recommendations. Earning opportunities will also expand — people will have a chance to find remote work with decent pay without leaving their native village.
— Today, the penetration of mobile communications in the northern regions is lower than the national average, due to the difficulty of laying land communication lines due to the harsh climate, difficult terrain and vast territories. The Bureau 1440 service will improve the quality of life in the Arctic and Far East regions and provide access to digital services for residents of thousands of small settlements with a population of up to 500 people, Bureau 1440 told Izvestia.
It is also important that emergency and rescue services will have access to reliable and fast data transmission, and communication will appear on winter roads, which will allow them to respond quickly in emergency situations, the company noted.
"This project will definitely help solve the issue of digital inequality and provide access to communications in remote locations, as well as on planes and trains," confirms Denis Kuskov, CEO of the TelecomDaily information and analytical agency.
At the same time, according to the expert, the emergence of new satellite communications is unlikely to affect the development of small and medium-sized businesses. However, the technology will be in demand from the point of view of logistics.
Meanwhile, Eldar Murtazin, a leading analyst at Mobile Research Group, believes that the satellite constellation will help not only people who permanently live in remote settlements. It will also be useful for those who work on a shift basis in territories where there is no stable connection. Seasonally, in his opinion, about 4 million people find themselves in such places, and it is also important for them to have a connection with the Mainland.
Preparation for the launch of the satellites of the Rassvet–2 mission
However, not only remote territories have problems accessing the Network, the expert notes. Even in the Moscow region, there are still settlements where there is no mobile Internet.
— Therefore, we are talking about ensuring a decent quality of life for both the hinterland and the central regions of Russia, — the interlocutor of Izvestia is convinced.
Business rate
However, the creation of a satellite constellation will have not only a social but also an economic effect. Passenger and cargo transport companies, the mining industry, the electric power industry, industrial production, agriculture, telecom operators, government and educational institutions, operational and emergency services, as well as tourism and geological exploration are primarily interested in communication services based on the low-orbit constellation, Bureau 1440 told Izvestia.
— New communication technologies open up digitalization opportunities for each of these industries. The mining industry will be able to manage remote facilities and solve tasks in real time. Covering federal highways will make possible the widespread use of smart and unmanned vehicles. In agriculture, broadband access will provide automation of field work. Passengers and crews of trains, planes and ships will receive stable seamless communication anywhere in the world," the press service of the aerospace company noted.
In the case of shipping, satellite communications are of particular importance — they will ensure the smooth operation of navigation, dispatch control and data collection systems, voice and video communications, and remote monitoring of vessels. This is extremely important, in particular, for the development of the Northern Sea Route. Bureau 1440 has already concluded an agreement with Atomflot and with the regions on the NSR.
— The cooperation is designed to build a digital connectivity of the country's transport infrastructure and provide satellite communications to ships in the waters of the Transarctic corridor. The service will create a continuous digital circuit for shipowners and shippers and will open up the possibility of constantly tracking cargo shipments around the world," the company's press service emphasized.
The project is of particular interest to mobile operators: the satellite can work as a channel to a remote base station, which will allow the user to receive the usual LTE or 5G without additional equipment. It is worth noting here that the system will not displace fiber-optic communication.: it is needed for situations where it is more profitable to install a terminal at a base station than to pull tens of kilometers of optics.
Another important potential use of the satellite constellation is the defense industry. First of all, Bureau 1440 focuses on the benefits of the project for citizens, but the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will also be able to use the technology. Therefore, according to Eldar Murtazin, we can talk about the dual purpose of "Dawn". All such systems, including Starlink, have both civilian and military applications, he believes.
— Due to the civilian orientation, the cost of operation is reduced. In the military sphere, the system finds application in providing navigation and control system operation. Therefore, the development of such technology is a matter of national security," the analyst emphasizes.
Reach a new level
Bureau 1440 has a lot of work ahead of it — it has to overcome technological barriers, withstand a tight launch schedule and find a sustainable economic model. However, the very fact of such an initiative suggests that the Russian Federation has joined the fight for digital sovereignty.
Debugging of onboard systems in the laboratory
But it is important to understand that the term "sovereign" in this case is not identical to the concept of "autonomous". Russia will have control over critical infrastructure and traffic, but Rassvet will not provide access to the entire global Internet in any political situation.
The issue of the cost of a new connection for end-users remains open. It is the affordable price of the final service that will be a key factor in mass success — it is important that residents of remote settlements can financially afford such an Internet connection.
However, the biggest debate is around the ability of "Dawn" to compete with its peers, primarily with Starlink. It should be recognized that even with the launch of hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2027, the lag behind the American system will still be significant (it already has thousands of devices).
And the mere presence of satellites in orbit does not mean that Russia has its own "Starlink" ready. The launch of the first batch of vehicles is a start, not an exit to the finish line. And it's not just that there are dozens of launches ahead, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure the stability of the network, prepare terminals, organize service support, integrate with operators and develop an understandable commercial model.
Flight Control Center Bureau 1440
Therefore, it makes sense to measure the success of "Dawn" by its ability to provide a stable and secure communication channel. However, Russia has a very high chance of achieving this goal. The Starlink and Rassvet systems have fundamentally different architectures, which gives the latter several advantages. In domestic technology, as Dmitry Agafonov, Deputy General Director for Business Development and Products at Bureau 1440, noted earlier, the emphasis is on a higher orbit, which allows for optimal balancing of the number of satellites, their service life and coverage.
Inter-satellite laser communication was initially incorporated into the Russian system as a key technology. Starlink is currently only engaged in its gradual implementation. Therefore, in a sense, we can talk not about copying the "Dawn" of Musk's technology, but rather about its evolution.
Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of Bureau 1440, also called for a broader view of the situation, without comparing the Russian low-orbit satellite constellation with Starlink.
"Now we are talking about switching to a new communication standard, and as often happens, whoever does something first becomes associated with this technology for a long time. But you have to understand that every next company will not repeat what the previous one did.: she will drive the development of communication forward. This will be a logical development of technology and architecture, not copies or replicas," the head of the company emphasized.
Collective efforts
Active preparations for the launch of the system are underway not only in space. Bureau 1440 is already looking for partners with whom it will implement the project in practice. In 2025, in particular, agreements were signed providing for the provision of satellite communications based on the low-orbit grouping of the Arctic and the Far East. Agreements were concluded with the Republic of Sakha, the Kamchatka Territory, the Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous Districts, as well as with the Yakut telecom operator JSC Arktiktelecom.
The largest Russian enterprises in the mining and manufacturing industries are also showing interest in Rassvet. Cooperation agreements have already been signed with the diamond mining company Alrosa, the mining and metallurgical company Severstal, the gold mining company Omsukchanskaya Mining and Geological Company, the unified communications operator of the oil pipeline industry Svyaztransneft and the subordinate IT integrator of the transport complex FSUE Zashchitainfotrans.
In addition, Bureau 1440 has already agreed with Beeline on the supply of equipment and communication channels for connecting existing and prospective base stations of the telecom operator. As Beeline CEO Sergey Anokhin reported on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, they plan to start testing this fall.
Separate work is underway on the transport line. In mid-May, at the CIPR conference, the developer of the Rassvet system, together with Russian Railways, approved a roadmap for the introduction of satellite communications on 135 Sapsan and Lastochka high-speed electric trains. These are the most popular routes: Moscow – St. Petersburg, Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow – Minsk, etc.
In addition, Bureau 1440 and the Federal Passenger Company (FPC) approved a plan for the introduction of satellite communications in long-distance trains as part of the SPIEF. At the first stage (at the end of this year), a subscriber terminal designed specifically for railway transport will be tested on FPC trains. If successful, trial operation of the service will begin. FPC expects to equip all regular trains with round-the-clock Internet access from the first quarter of 2028.
In turn, the Federal Air Transport Agency is exploring the possibility of equipping Russian aircraft with special terminals. An aviation-grade subscriber terminal for access to broadband satellite communications from an aircraft is being constructed under an agreement with PJSC Aeroflot. The airline expects the Network to fully appear on airplanes in 2027-2028.
The existence of specific agreements indicates that "Dawn" can no longer be called just a fantasy on the topic of "the Russian Starlink response." It has moved from the category of ambitious plans to the category of projects that are actually under construction. The future system has a strong technical base, serious government support and a clear application logic. However, it has yet to pass the test of time, turning from a promising project into a sustainable service that strengthens the country's digital sovereignty.
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