RSCC celebrates its 40th anniversary

22.11 : 2007

On November 4, 2007 the Russian state satellite operator RSCC celebrated its 40th anniversary. The company history is part and parcel of satellite communications systems development in Russia. In 1967 the first communication channels were established via Molnia-1 satellites to connect Moscow with the Far East, Siberia, and Central Asia. The same year regular TV broadcasting in the cities and towns of Siberia and the Far East was organized thanks to the unique TV distribution system Orbita. RSCC has been working in the industry since that remarkable period and today has become one of the ten biggest satellite operators in the world providing services in 35 countries.

High-elliptical satellites of Molnia type were used to provide communications and broadcasting services in remote regions of the country: Chukotka, Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, as well as the areas beyond Artic circle. In 1970-ies RSCC established the first governmental communication channels that connected Moscow with the key capitals of the world. The launch of Ekran satellite in 1976 became a revolutionary event for the industry as it was the first DTH satellite in the world. The first Ekran satellite broadcast TV and radio programs to the people who lived in severe geographical and climatic conditions: BAM transport system constructors, oil and gas industry workers, and Arctic seaway ships. In 1980 RSCC experts were involved in broadcasting Moscow Olympic Games to the area from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean via the newest at that time Gorizont satellites.

Today RSCC keeps on developing and operating the satellite communications and broadcasting systems for the sake of state, citizens and business, introducing new technologies and services. RSCC bends its efforts to promote state-of-the art multimedia services widely available in every corner of the globe.

In 2004 RSCC offered the capacity of Express-AM spacecraft to the international satellite communications market and entered the top-ten largest satellite operators in the world. However, the company is focused primarily on the development of satellite communications and broadcasting network in the Russian Federation to secure the common information space in the country.