On March 24, 2026, the Russian space agency, BUREAU 1440, accomplished a significant feat by successfully deploying the first set of 16 low-Earth-orbit internet satellites. This launch took place at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, utilizing the reliable Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket. The satellites have precisely reached their designated orbits, with the ambitious goal of establishing a worldwide satellite internet network. This network will incorporate cutting-edge 5G NTN communication technology and utilize inter-satellite laser links for seamless connectivity. The satellites are slated to be positioned in an 800-kilometer-high orbit, delivering internet services with an impressive bandwidth of 1Gbps per user and maintaining an end-to-end latency of roughly 70 milliseconds.
