Russia develops satellite internet system to rival American billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink

DNVN - According to Mr. Dmitry Bakanov - head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), the first satellites serving nationwide internet will be launched into orbit next December.

On the afternoon of September 17, RT channel quoted Mr. Bakanov as saying that Russia is preparing to deploy a satellite internet network similar to Starlink - the system operated by billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Mr. Dmitry Bakanov - head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Photo: Sputnik

RT said Starlink currently provides high-speed internet service from low Earth orbit and plays an important role for the Ukrainian military in the conflict with Russia, supporting combat coordination, reconnaissance as well as controlling UAVs across the entire front.

In a conversation on the Solovyov LIVE program on September 17, Mr. Bakanov emphasized that the first Russian internet satellites will be launched in December 2025, and affirmed that the system will reach a level equivalent to Starlink.

“A number of orbital test devices have been tested and serial production samples have been adapted,” Bakanov said, stressing: “We are also moving rapidly in this direction.”

The head of Roscosmos noted that the entire satellite constellation is expected to be completed within the next two years.

Previously, Roscosmos leaders affirmed that building a national satellite internet network would help Russian forces control UAVs with greater precision.

SpaceX currently owns the world's largest satellite network, with more than 7,000 Starlink satellites in operation.

This service was launched in 2020 and according to SpaceX's announcement, it currently has more than 6 million users in more than 140 countries and territories, but the service is not officially operating in Russia.

According to the Kiev government, since 2022, Ukraine has received more than 50,000 Starlink terminals, and Elon Musk once admitted that the system was used directly on the front line after other communication channels were destroyed.

Reuters reported in July that billionaire Musk had ordered Starlink coverage to be cut off during Ukraine's counter-offensive in September 2022, causing service to be cut in areas such as Kherson and parts of Donetsk.

The move paralyzed more than 100 terminals, disrupting reconnaissance and artillery command operations.

At the time, Ukrainian officials told Reuters that the loss of connectivity had foiled plans to encircle Russian forces.

According to some sources, Musk made the above decision due to concerns that the counterattack could lead to a nuclear reaction from Russia.

For their part, Russian officials have long warned about the risk of this technology being exploited for military purposes.

Viet Anh

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/quoc-te/nga-phat-trien-he-thong-internet-ve-tinh-doi-trong-voi-starlink-cua-ty-phu-my-elon-musk/20250918090114328