The Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440, part of ICS Holding, has successfully tested its next-generation satellite communication system in the Northern Sea Route. The project involved collaboration with Glavsevmorput, Atomflot, and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA).
The tests utilized the 1440.Ultra subscriber terminal installed on the Ural nuclear-powered icebreaker. During the trials, the ship's captain conducted a video conference with the Atomflot situational center in Murmansk to report on the route and ice conditions.
Medical staff aboard the icebreaker used the satellite connection to perform a telemedicine consultation with specialists at the Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center in Moscow. The session included the transmission of diagnostic imaging data for a crew member.
This marks the first instance of using domestic low-orbit satellite infrastructure for connectivity in the Arctic. The company plans to expand its coverage to provide broadband internet access across the Northern Sea Route, including routes to the North Pole.