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Russia’s proposed Starlink rival is Rassvet, a low-Earth-orbit broadband network being developed by Bureau 1440. Satellite internet carries data between a user terminal and satellites, then to the wider internet through ground gateways or links between satellites. As of September 2026, Rassvet was still in development: 32 production satellites had been launched, but reports described deployment problems, and commercial service remained a target for 2027—not an available consumer alternative to Starlink.
What is Rassvet?
Rassvet is a planned low-Earth-orbit (LEO) broadband satellite network developed by Bureau 1440, a company within IKS Holding. It is often described as Russia’s Starlink rival because both projects aim to provide internet through large constellations of satellites. That similarity describes their purpose, not equivalent scale, availability, or operating performance.
Bureau 1440’s announced service goals include terminal speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s and latency of up to 70 milliseconds, as reported by RBC and Anadolu Ajansı in 2026. These are targets, not independently measured results from a retail service.
How does satellite internet work?
From a terminal to the internet
A customer terminal—typically an antenna and modem—sends and receives radio signals to a satellite within its view. The satellite routes data to a ground gateway connected to terrestrial networks. If the network supports inter-satellite links, the satellite can instead relay data to another spacecraft before the traffic reaches a gateway. Replies travel back to the user over the network’s return path.
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The internet connection still relies on familiar networks and services; what changes is the access link between the user and the wider network. Rather than relying only on a cable or nearby mobile tower, the terminal communicates with equipment in orbit.
Why a LEO network needs many satellites
LEO satellites move quickly relative to a point on Earth, so one satellite stays in range of a particular location only temporarily. To maintain coverage, a network needs satellites in multiple orbital paths with overlapping visibility. As one satellite moves out of range, the terminal’s connection must transfer to another—a process called a handoff.
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RFE/RL explains the continuity requirement this way: “For the constellation to provide constant communications, it needs to have enough satellites so that one or more are always above that point.” A small number of satellites may offer only intermittent coverage; persistent service depends on a sufficiently populated constellation and successful handoffs.
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A satellite at a higher altitude can see a larger area of Earth, potentially allowing each spacecraft to cover more ground. But signals travel farther, which can increase the time they take to make the journey. Lower orbits shorten the path and can help reduce latency, while requiring more satellites to maintain continuous coverage over the same area.
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Reporting puts Rassvet’s planned orbit at about 800 km, compared with about 550 km or lower for Starlink satellites. Those altitudes are a point of comparison, not enough on their own to establish the networks’ real-world latency or coverage.
What are Rassvet’s plans, and what has launched?
Announced constellation schedule
RBC reported a phased federal project plan in February 2026 calling for 156 satellites in 2026, 292 in 2027, and 318 in 2028, with possible expansion to as many as 900 by 2035. These are planned milestones, not counts of satellites already deployed or operating.
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Reported launches and orbital problems
Ars Technica reported that launches in March and July 2026 carried 32 production Rassvet satellites into low Earth orbit. Launching a satellite does not by itself mean it has reached its intended operating orbit or is providing service. Ars Technica described problems with the second batch reaching planned altitudes. In an account dated September 20, 2026, RFE/RL reported that one satellite from the first batch had reentered, other first-batch spacecraft remained below their originally planned altitude, and the July batch had also encountered problems.
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Those reports make a planned 2027 commercial start uncertain. They do not establish that continuous public service has begun.
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How does Rassvet compare with Starlink?
The available facts support a comparison of stated plans and reported deployment—not a like-for-like test of live services. The sources cited below describe Rassvet’s status through September 2026.
| Comparison | Rassvet | Starlink or general context |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit | Planned orbit of about 800 km, according to reporting. | Reporting places Starlink satellites at about 550 km or lower. Lower altitude shortens the signal path; higher altitude can increase the area visible to each satellite. |
| Deployment and continuity | 32 production satellites launched in two batches by September 2026, according to Ars Technica; reports also described orbital problems. | A moving LEO constellation needs sufficient satellites and handoffs for continuous coverage. The cited figures do not establish comparable operating constellation counts. |
| Speed and latency | Up to 1 Gbit/s per terminal and up to 70 ms latency are announced goals reported by RBC and Anadolu Ajansı in 2026, not verified retail results. | No directly comparable Starlink performance measurement is established by the cited Rassvet reporting. |
| Customer access | Commercial service was still prospective in reporting through September 2026. RFE/RL reported no public evidence of large-scale terminal production. | The available Rassvet reporting does not establish a direct comparison of terminal availability or subscription terms. |
| Intended customers | Plans include individual users as well as mobile operators, transport companies, industrial facilities, and remote areas, according to Anadolu Ajansı. | WIRED quoted space expert Vitalij Egorov interpreting Rassvet’s intended customer mix as closer to OneWeb’s commercial, state, and government focus than to Starlink’s broader consumer identity. That is his interpretation, not an official classification. |
Who is Rassvet intended to serve?
Reported plans reach beyond home broadband to businesses and infrastructure operators that need connectivity where terrestrial networks are difficult to build or extend. Anadolu Ajansı reported several prospective uses and collaborations:
- Connectivity for remote areas and industrial facilities.
- Backhaul connections for mobile operators. A reported plan calls for integrating 500 MegaFon base stations by 2027.
- Connectivity for trains, with terminal tests reported for Russian Railways.
- Aircraft connectivity, with work reported alongside Aeroflot.
These are stated uses, targets, tests, or reported collaborations—not confirmation that the services are live.
What do the laser-link and speed figures mean?
Anadolu Ajansı reported that Bureau 1440 tested a 10 Gbit/s laser link between satellites more than 1,000 km apart. That figure describes a test of a link between spacecraft; it is not the speed available to an internet subscriber. Similarly, the announced “up to” 1 Gbit/s terminal speed and “up to” 70 ms latency are project goals, not confirmed customer experience.
Is Russia’s satellite internet available yet?
As of reporting through September 2026, Rassvet should be treated as a developing network rather than an operational consumer broadband option. Reports describe 32 production satellites launched, but also problems reaching planned altitudes; commercial service was still a future target. The reporting does not establish public terminal availability, consumer pricing, or subscription terms.
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