Russia is preparing “Rassvet,” a domestic low-orbit satellite internet system positioned as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. According to people familiar with the program cited by Reuters and reporting by The Next Web, Russia plans to bring a commercial version online next year, but the project has faced delays and repeatedly adjusted timelines over nearly a decade. Kyiv Post reports that the company developing Rassvet, Bureau 1440, has already deployed an initial set of satellites: 16 low-orbit satellites launched in March 2026, with plans to expand the constellation to hundreds of satellites over time. The outlet also says Rassvet is described as a domestic alternative to Starlink and links the program’s reported progress to statements made at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum by Iks Holding CEO Alexei Shelobkov, who discusses a commercial launch target extending into 2027. Across the reports, the key point is that Rassvet is under development with an expanding satellite constellation, and the publicized commercial launch date has continued to move as the system reaches new milestones.