Russian satellites will provide internet on long-distance Russian Railways trains in 2026

Pilot operation of the service will begin in 2025. Bureau-1440 has already created a special terminal for this

This was announced at the international forum of digital technologies in transport and logistics "Digital Transportation-2024" by Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of LLC "IC Holding", CEO of LLC "Bureau-1440".

Speaking at the plenary session "From digital solutions of leaders to industry leadership", Shelobkov noted that the organization has developed a technology to provide the Internet: "Space for people." With its help, satellites will transmit a signal to passengers of airplanes, ships, long-distance trains of Russian Railways, in order to meet modern requirements of service and comfort for people.

The first technology will work on Russian Railways: 70% of passengers of trains and long-distance trains, as a result of the survey, said that they would like to see uninterrupted Internet during the journey in the compartment.

We have come a very long way this year. We have the first engineering prototype of the terminal, which is planned for pilot operation next year, so that in 2026, in the second half of the year, this partial service could already be presented on such long routes as Moscow-Vladivostok, when people are on the road for dozens of hours. So that they can work, watch something, communicate with loved ones, travel safely.
Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of LLC "IC Holding", CEO of LLC "Bureau-1440"

There are currently 6 satellites in orbit, but in 2026-2027 a whole series of satellites will be launched, which will make the service more accessible.

The first to receive widespread Internet access will be trains, then airplanes. This is due to the peculiarities of the development and certification of devices, which takes a long time.

Earlier in early June, Bureau 1440 reported that they tested the domestic laser inter-satellite communication network, and these tests were recognized as successful. In the West, this satellite system has already been called a response to Elon Musk's Starlink.