Image: Starlink
Russia is accelerating efforts to build its own satellite internet service to rival SpaceX’s Starlink, according to a report from Reuters. Dmitry Bakanov, the recently-appointed 39-year-old head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, said the country is now moving past outdated thinking that allowed Elon Musk’s company to seize dominance in low Earth orbit connectivity.
“Several test vehicles in orbit have already been inspected and the production ones have been modified accordingly,” Bakanov said in an interview with Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov. “We are also moving at a rapid pace in this direction.”
The new project is being developed by Bureau 1440, a Russian aerospace company working on a low Earth orbit satellite system for global broadband. Bakanov, who previously ran Gonets, a smaller satellite communications service used primarily for government purposes, said Roscosmos must overcome “inertia” and attract young engineering talent to compete effectively.
Starlink, meanwhile, has surged ahead to become the world’s leading satellite internet provider. The SpaceX-operated service recently surpassed 7 million users across 150 countries and territories. With around 8,000 satellites currently in orbit, SpaceX just marked its milestone 300th Starlink launch earlier this month. Beyond satellite broadband, Musk’s company has ambitious plans for satellite-powered global cellular service, spending $17 billion to secure wireless spectrum from EchoStar.
Starlink’s widespread adoption, particularly in remote areas and conflict zones, has underscored its importance. Ukrainian forces have relied heavily on the service during the war with Russia, making it a particularly sensitive point for Moscow.
Russia once led the way in space, with the Soviet Union launching Sputnik 1 in 1957 and sending Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961. But since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, its space program has been plagued by underfunding, mismanagement, and recent failures, including the 2023 Luna-25 crash on the Moon.
Bakanov says the country has learned from past mistakes, including dismissing Musk’s early attempts to purchase Russian rockets in 2002 — a snub that spurred him to build SpaceX and undercut Russia’s launch industry.
Whether Roscosmos can now mount a serious challenge to Starlink remains to be seen, but Bakanov insists Russia is pushing ahead while firing on all cylinders.
