ETHER Global Communications Satellite System Global Multifunctional Information Satellite System (GMISS)

The implementation of the Ether project (which has now entered the Sphere) involved the formation of a consortium with the participation of the RKS, Rocket and Space Corporation Energia named after S.P. Korolev, representatives of the telecom industry, etc.

2019: Decision to close the Ether project

On September 30, 2019, it became known that the project of the Global Multifunctional Information and Communication Satellite System (GMISS) program for the provision of Internet and mobile communications services, known as "Ether," would be excluded from the national program "Digital Economy" at the request of Roscosmos due to the lack of funds for its implementation.

Roscosmos sent the relevant proposals to the Ministry of Communications in mid-July 2019, and to the government in mid-August, the letter of the Federal Space Agency said.

The inability to find external investors in the Ether project was confirmed at Roskosmos. The fact that the only potential investor Vnesheconombank decided to refuse to participate in the design and financing of GMISS, in the fall of 2018, a number of media reported. As now explained in the state corporation, the project required extrabudgetary funding in the amount of about 500 billion rubles, and not 299 billion rubles of private-state funding, as previously stated. But funding "has not been organized to date."^[1]

2018

The creation of "Ether" was provided for by the program "Digital Economy of the Russian Federation," in particular, the system was supposed to allocate 299 billion rubles from extrabudgetary sources (49 billion rubles in 2018 and 250 billion rubles in 2020).

Proposal to exclude VEB from the number of investors

On September 27, 2018, information appeared that Vnesheconombank (VEB) may refuse to support the project of the national Digital Economy program to create a global multifunctional information and communication satellite system (GMISS) in Russia, a kind of analogue of the British OneWeb.

Deputy Chairman-Member of the Board of the Bank Alexei Ivanchenko proposed to exclude VEB from the co-executors of measures related to the financing and design of the satellite system from the passport of the Digital Economy in the Russian Federation program. However, according to his proposal, the bank will participate in the activities of the national program related to the development of digital startups, and in theory it may return to the issue of GMISS.

As of September 27, a partner of a potential investor in the Sphere project, of which GMISS is a part, Roscosmos has not yet received a notification of VEB's withdrawal.^[2]

System presentation

On May 22, 2018, Russian Space Systems Holding presented the project of the Russian satellite global communications system ETHER. Using the system, it is proposed to provide mobile voice communication, real-time communication channels for the Internet of personal users and the "Internet of things," including for monitoring transport and unmanned vehicles.

The AETHER spacecraft are planned to be interconnected by inter-satellite lines to allow information to be transmitted anywhere in the world, as well as to an air or space object.

According to the basic version of the design appearance, the ETHER system, consisting of 288 satellites with an orbit of 870 km high, is proposed to be deployed by 2025. According to plans, by this time it will provide full coverage of the earth's surface and will become a "space data bus" for the provision of satellite personal (telephone) services, the Internet, receiving data from sensors and Internet of Things systems, unmanned vehicles, and reserving trunk channels.

"According to the program" Digital Economy of the Russian Federation, "it is planned to build a Russian" hybrid "intelligent national communication network, in which the satellite segment will become part of the common platform. In the absence of terrestrial communication networks, low-orbit satellite constellation will ensure the exchange of data in almost real time, including between mobile objects. " Evgeny Nesterov, RKS Deputy General Director for Strategic Development and Innovation

It is expected that ETHER will expand the opportunities for the development of key sectors of the Russian economy. First of all, mining and energy companies, housing and communal services, agriculture, transport, e-commerce, medicine, education and the entertainment industry are interested in the project, according to the RCS.

The AETHER spacecraft are planned to be interconnected by inter-satellite lines to allow information to be transmitted anywhere in the world, as well as to an air or space object. At the same time, the evolution of the orbital constellation is expected with the replacement of spacecraft and ground infrastructure elements as technology with new consumer characteristics is developed.

The project involves the formation of a consortium with the participation of the RCC, the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, representatives of the telecom industry and the construction of cooperation that consolidates the assets of the space industry.

According to the RCS, the company plans to create a system based on Russian solutions and components. According to plans, it will be the next stage in the development of ROSCOSMOS satellite communication systems in addition to the system created as part of the OneWeb project, of which ROSCOSMOS is a participant. The project will significantly expand the capabilities of satellite communication systems to provide the necessary infrastructure for the development of the digital economy of Russia, as well as ensure the development of a large-scale market for client digital services, the RCC noted.

The project provides for the possibility of exporting information communication services to partner countries, which will be able to develop communication infrastructure and digital e-commerce platforms, unmanned vehicle management, territory and industrial facilities monitoring, and content provider services.

Announcement of a system

At the end of May 2018, "" Roskosmos will present a project for a system for covering the Earth with high-speed access to, Internet according to the announcement of the state corporation. Thus Russia , a competitor can be created in - OneWeb Satellites a joint project of companies and, Airbus OneWeb the medium-orbit European system O3b, overseen by SES Corporation, as well as Roscosmos, the AmericanStarlink owned (SpaceX company) Elon Musk ^[3]

As a source in the rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti, we are talking about a project of a global multifunctional information satellite system (GMISS). Initially, the initiative to create the system belongs to the Russian Space Systems company.

The closest competitors

The British OneWeb system is based on the operation of 672 satellites located in two circular orbits (800 and 950 kilometers). Another important component of the project is the gateway stations, which will distribute the Internet in the served territories. Initially, it is planned to build fifty stations, and in the future they should be located at a distance of about 2.5 thousand kilometers from each other around the world.

To manufacture satellites (and in total, including the reserve, it is planned to manufacture about 900 spacecraft), pay for launch services and build a ground term and control center, OneWeb LLC plans to raise up to three billion dollars in private capital and has already secured the support of many influential corporations.

Soyuz rockets from the Kourou Cosmodrome have already been launched three times into orbit by four satellites of the O3b medium orbital system, which are also designed to provide high-speed Internet. This is a European system overseen by SES Corporation. The next launch under the program is scheduled for 2019. The cost of O3b is estimated at a billion dollars.

Another competing project is Starlink, owned by SpaceX (Ilona Mask Company). The practical implementation of the project began on February 22, 2018, when the Falcon-9 rocket launched two test satellites into orbit - Tintin-A and Tintin-B. In total, Musk plans to launch about 12 thousand satellites. SpaceX estimated the cost of implementing the Starlink project at ten billion dollars, but experts consider this figure underestimated.

2017: GMISS Initiative

In November 2017, Roscosmos State Corporation took the initiative to create a project for a global multifunctional information and communication satellite system (GMISS) to provide Internet and mobile services.

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