Russia Puts First Rassvet Internet Satellites Into Orbit as Domestic Starlink Alternative

Russia launched the first batch of operational satellites for Rassvet, its domestic broadband internet constellation designed to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, Bloomberg reports. The launch represents a milestone for Bureau 1440, the private Russian aerospace company developing the system. Rassvet had faced repeated delays, with the first batch originally scheduled for late 2025. Full deployment of more than 300 satellites is targeted for 2027. Starlink has more than 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. Russia banned Starlink access domestically and has been developing alternatives as part of a broader push for technological sovereignty across communications infrastructure. The timing aligns with the Iran war context, in which satellite communications have become a contested layer of wartime infrastructure.