The Russian orbital satellite constellation will allow private investment.
According to the head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, state resources alone are not enough in this direction. By 2030, most likely, private companies will help launch about 600 satellites, which is about 40% of the planned volume of the orbital constellation. The mechanism has already been thought out, and the structure is working with private companies.
Roscosmos, having received applications from private companies, incorporates their proposals into the all-Russian space constellation, agrees on the main parameters, monitors the progress of their obligations, and concludes forward contracts for the purchase of future services that they are going to provide. And private companies attract extra-budgetary funds, create these groupings, and begin to provide services. This is the basic formula for working with private companies today.
Previously, Roscosmos announced private funding only in the project to create 136 small spacecraft (MCA) "Grifon". The first four experimental devices have already begun to be assembled, and they will be launched in 2024. The main satellite constellation will be launched and deployed in 2025-2026. The public-private initiative will deal with research and technical tasks, as well as taking pictures of the Earth from space.
In general, by 2030, Russia had previously announced its intention to launch almost 400 domestic new communication satellites of several series. At the same time, each of the areas – transport, Internet of Things, broadband Internet access and mobile satellite service – will have its own orbits.
Some of the satellites called "Gonets-M1" are expected to displace American Iridium and British Inmarsat by 2029 in servicing friendly countries.