Russian Railways has begun testing satellite internet connectivity on standard passenger trains. The project utilizes the low-Earth orbit satellite constellation developed by Bureau 1440, a subsidiary of ICS Holding. According to Deputy CEO of Russian Railways Evgeny Charkin, a laboratory car equipped with the necessary hardware has been in operation for approximately one month.
The ongoing trials are reported to be successful. Russian Railways plans to integrate the satellite infrastructure once it is fully deployed by Bureau 1440. The company aims to provide high-speed internet access across its entire fleet by 2028, contingent on the availability of the required equipment.
Bureau 1440 recently unveiled its new range of proprietary subscriber terminals. The flagship model, 1440.ULTRA, is designed for mass production and supports data transmission speeds of up to 700 Mbps. The Rassvet project serves as a domestic alternative to Starlink, focusing on providing broadband satellite internet services.
