Russia's Rassvet LEO Satellite System Enters Real-World Testing Phase
Russia's low-orbit satellite system Rassvet has exited the laboratory and entered real-world operations. Bureau 1440, a subsidiary of IKS Holding, has started testing its satellite internet service with actual consumers in various regions of the country.
The first user terminal has already been installed on a long-distance train operated by Russian Railways. Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of IKS Holding and head of Bureau 1440, announced the milestone at the Eastern Economic Forum.
According to Shelobkov, the project transitioned from research to service validation in 2026, ahead of the original timeline. The company will now evaluate how the satellite connection performs across vast territories and while in motion. Testing on the Russian Railways train is scheduled to begin within days or weeks.
Rassvet is being developed as a domestic low-Earth orbit constellation designed for high-speed data transmission. Its goals include connecting remote regions, narrowing the digital divide, and establishing a sovereign Russian hybrid communications infrastructure.
Shelobkov stressed that the project should not be viewed solely as a counterpart to Starlink. Satellite internet is becoming a core technology and future communications standard, making independent Russian infrastructure essential to avoid reliance on foreign satellites, terminals, and external policy decisions.
In parallel, Roscosmos plans to expand cooperation with private companies in the space sector. Space has evolved from a domain of symbolic launches into routine business infrastructure, Shelobkov noted.
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