Satellite Communications (Russian Market)

• Communication (Russian market)
• Satellite production in Russia

2024

A software and hardware complex has been created in Russia to protect against attacks on communication satellites

In Russia, a software and hardware complex was created to protect against external attacks on communication satellites. About this development in the state-owned company "Space Communication" told in April 2024. Read more here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to allocate 116 billion rubles for the development of satellite Internet

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to allocate 116 billion rubles for the development of satellite Internet in the country. This was reported in the list of instructions published at the end of March 2024, which the head of state gave following the message to the Federal Assembly.

To send in 2025-2030 budget allocations of the federal budget in the amount of at least 116 billion rubles for the creation of a satellite constellation for the development of high-speed access to the Internet information and telecommunication network, "the Kremlin website said.

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Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been appointed responsible for the implementation of this order. The head of state is waiting for the corresponding report until December 15, 2024, then - once a year.

At the end of February 2024, Vladimir Putin said that access to high-speed Internet should be provided almost throughout the country. Putin stressed that the state will solve the task with the help of a multiple increase in the domestic satellite constellation.

According to ComNews CEO Leonid Konik, Russia really needs new satellite constellations in non-geostationary orbits, in the world such constellations as Starlink and OneWeb are at the peak of popularity. The expert noted that by March 2024 in the Russian Federation there is not a single state project on low-orbital grouping for Internet services, but there is a private initiative called Rassvet from Bureau 1440, potentially interested in state support. According to Konik's estimates, the real full costs of Bureau 1440 should be at least $7 billion. The declared 116 billion rubles will be enough for 20% of the co-financing of the Rassvet project, the expert added in a conversation with Vedomosti.

The general director of the hosting provider RUVDSNikita Tsaplin believes that Russia may have enough from 100 to 600 spacecraft for the normal operation of the new satellite Internet.^[1]

2023

The Ministry of Digital Development will ensure the protection of satellite television signals in Russia

At the end of August 2023, it became known that the Ministry of Digital Development is look for a solution to ensure reliable protection of satellite television signals in Russia. This is necessary to prevent translation spoofing.

According to the Vedomosti newspaper, the attackers have repeatedly falsified the TV signal of satellite channels broadcast on the territory of the Russian Federation. For this, high-power antennas are used. One of the most notable incidents occurred on February 28, 2023: then a false message about an air alarm appeared on the air of the TNT4, Saturday and 2x2 holding Gazprom-Media Entertainment Television (GPM RTV). It turned out that the broadcast substitution occurred due to the interception of the signal from the Yamal-402 satellite, owned by the Gazprom Space Systems holding (part of the Gazprom group. This device broadcasts at 55 degrees east longitude.

The Ministry of Digital Development has started looking for a solution to ensure reliable protection of satellite television signals

Experts explain that TV satellites, in fact, work as a mirror: they receive a signal of a certain power from the Earth and broadcast it to the entire coverage area. If attackers give their own, more powerful signal, it can drown out legal broadcasting and spread to the coverage area of ​ ​ the spacecraft.

Attacks on TV channels can be implemented in various ways. For example, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in programs that are used to broadcast a signal, or carry out attacks on transmitting network devices. It is noted that the Ministry of Digital Development is discussing possible ways to protect broadcasts with the largest satellite television operators providing services on the Russian market. The problem of satellite signal substitution forces companies to constantly make certain technical changes in the settings of their equipment, which creates additional difficulties.

To protect satellite TV channels, it is proposed to use intrusion detection systems (IDS), multifactor authentication and enhanced security monitoring tools. However, solving the issue will require simplifying legal procedures and switching to domestic software.^[2]

Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation creates a satellite communication system with 900 devices, integration with 5G and 6G

Russia will deploy a hybrid satellite communication system, which will include hundreds of spacecraft in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO). This is stated in the project strategies for the development of the communications industry of the Russian Federation for the period until 2035, which was published Ministry of Digital Development in mid-August 2023.

The document notes that one of the most significant trends in the technological and market development of the communication sphere is the emergence of multi-satellite NGSO groups. Globally, the NGSO-based satellite broadband Internet access market is growing at a faster pace. According to forecasts, in terms of traffic volume, such platforms will overtake geostationary satellite systems (GSO) in 2030, and by 2035 they will show a twofold increase in the total size of transmitted data (compared to GSO).

Russia will deploy a hybrid satellite communications system, which will include hundreds of spacecraft in non-geostationary orbit

It is assumed that as part of the development of the NGSO infrastructure, Russia will launch 622 satellites into space by 2030, and by 2035 their number will reach 924. In parallel, it is planned to develop the concept of hybrid orbital-ground networks. Such platforms implement cellular communication standards on a satellite radio interface, providing data transmission between a spacecraft and a mobile terminal, for example, a smartphone. It is planned to integrate the NGSO system with terrestrial networks of 5G and 6G standards.

Hybrid networks are expected to provide high-speed communication with low delays throughout Russia, including the Arctic zone. It talks about the high mobility of subscribers, as well as the possibility of controlling drones in real time with an extensive territory of control.

The Ministry of Digital Development assumes that in the period from 2031 to 2035, the equipment of the LTE standard and earlier generations will be completely replaced by domestic solutions. In the same time frame, it is planned to deploy 5G networks in all cities with a population of 100 thousand people or more, as well as the beginning of commercial operation of 6G networks.^[3]

The Ministry of Digital Development will prohibit all operators from purchasing satellite access services from foreign companies

On July 19, 2023, it became known that Ministry of Digital Development was discussing a new project with the government, according to which operators would be prohibited from purchasing satellite Internet access services from foreign companies.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, the initiative is dictated by the need to develop the Russian satellite industry. According to the Ministry of Digital Development, by 2030, the degradation of the domestic satellite constellation of communications, Internet access and broadcasting is possible. In particular, out of 12 satellites of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Space Communications," seven devices will work out their lifetime. This will entail extremely negative consequences. Among them are named failures in the operation of the system of presidential, government and special satellite communications, federal digital television, inaccessibility of communication in a significant part of the Arctic zone of Russia, the dominance of a foreign satellite constellation, the inability to meet the needs of the country's economy with modern communication services, etc.

The Ministry of Digital Development is discussing a project according to which operators will be prohibited from purchasing satellite Internet access services from foreign companies

The Ministry of Digital Development proposes several measures that are expected to stimulate the development of the satellite communications industry in Russia. One of them is an increase in the tariffs of the GPKS (FSUE Cosmic Communications) by 2.5 times. In addition, the purchase of satellite Internet access services from foreign operators will be prohibited.

The requirement should apply to both state-owned companies and private ones. For the stable operation of the Internet and TV, our providers must work through our domestic devices, the Ministry of Digital Development said.

However, the development of the domestic satellite grouping of communications was complicated in the light of the formed geopolitical situation. The fact is that sanctions impede the supply to Russia of key foreign equipment and components for the creation of domestic communication satellites, which previously amounted to more than 80% in such spacecraft^[4]

2022:5% market growth

The volume of the Russian satellite communication market in terms of the number of small base stations in 2022 increased by 5% compared to 2021 and amounted to 150 thousand units. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin cited such figures on November 7, 2023 during a stratification for the development of the telecommunications industry.

The head of the Cabinet recalled that in October 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin set the task of significantly expanding the availability of key space services for citizens, businesses, authorities at all levels. Such technologies, according to Mishustin, open the way for more effective development of territories, are needed when launching transport and logistics corridors. Their introduction will help stimulate promising industries such as robotics, data economics and unmanned vehicles, he said.

The volume of the Russian satellite communications market grew by 5%

In his speech at the stratification on the development of the communications industry, Mikhail Mishustin pointed out the need to accelerate the creation of a domestic low-orbit satellite constellation and update existing communication and broadcasting satellites in geostationary orbit. The Prime Minister stressed the urgency of modernizing the current infrastructure and building new networks using domestic technologies and equipment, including in the field of space communications.

The strategy for the development of the communications industry by 2035 should be approved in the near future, and the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, together with interested departments, will prepare an action plan for its implementation. This is stated in the commentary of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko following the results of the strategic session on the development of the communications industry, which took place on November 7, 2023. As the deputy head of the government recalled, the preparation of the document was carried out by the government on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, preparing a strategy for the entire industry together with Russian companies, specialized experts, associations.^[5]

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