Room for everyone in space: RSCC Director General Alexey Volin discussed the needs and capabilities of satellite operators at SATCOMRUS 2026
The demand for satellite communications in Russia will rise by 25% by 2035. This was announced by Alexey Volin — Director General of the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and head of the Industry Competence Center (ICC) — at the 31st SATCOMRUS 2026 international conference. The event took place on September 24 in Nizhny Novgorod.
«The throughput capacity of key backbone networks is set to grow from 20 Tbit/s to 35 Tbit/s —a 1.75-fold increase—between 2030 and 2035. Satellite communication demands are more modest, estimated at 120 GHz. It is worth noting that even if all operator plans are implemented and satellite constellations operate at an optimal 80% load, the available capacity will barely suffice to meet demand; further growth is essential. We have analyzed the requirements and are confident that Russia offers significant potential for established players and new market entrants», emphasized Alexey Volin.
A key topic at the conference was the launch of spacecraft for private companies. Under the "Space" national project, the State Corporation Roscosmos offers launch subsidies. The available infrastructure enables the deployment of commercial communications satellites of any size into any type of orbit, thanks to a range of launch vehicles with payload capacities from 0.6 to 27 tons, three operational spaceports and an extensive network of ground stations.
According to a report by Gennady Erokhin — General Designer for Automated Space Systems and Complexes and Deputy General Director of JSC TsNIIMash , «The Roscosmos State Corporation provides private companies with end-to-end, turnkey support—ranging from radio frequency coordination, testing, and certification to the manufacturing, launch, and in-orbit operation of spacecraft».
Yuri Urlichich, Advisor to the General Director of RSCC and moderator of the plenary session, also outlined the current challenges facing the industry. Priority areas include establishing an effective system for monitoring and controlling unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as other uncrewed and robotic systems. A key objective remains providing 100% of Russia's population with broadband internet access at prices affordable for the mass market.
"Subscribers should have access to personal satellite communications anywhere in Russia and broadband access while on the move. Furthermore, we need to create conditions for the development and widespread adoption of IoT services for users in our country, with subscriber equipment costs and data speeds comparable to those of cellular networks," noted Yuri Urlichich.
The speakers at the plenary session also included Dmitry Agafonov, Deputy General Director for Business Development and Products, BUREAU 1440; Andrey Manoylo, General Director of JSC Gonets Satellite System; Igor Zabolotny, General Director of Isatel LLC; Mikhail Valov, General Director of JSC RESHETNEV.
TASS News Agency is the event's general media partner.