Russia's trains to offer satellite internet via domestic Skynet system

Russia's Federal Passenger Company has announced plans to bring high-speed internet to its trains. The service will use the country's own satellite technology to keep passengers connected throughout their journeys. CEO Vladimir Pyastolov confirmed the rollout, promising stable online access even in areas with poor mobile coverage. The new internet service will rely on Russia's Skynet/Sfera satellite constellation, a low-Earth orbit broadband system developed by Roscosmos. Over the past five years, progress has been slow, with only around 10 test satellites launched between 2022 and 2023. Delays stemmed from Western sanctions following the Ukraine invasion, funding shortages, and technical challenges. While competitors like Starlink and OneWeb expanded rapidly—reaching thousands of operational satellites—Russia's system remains far behind in scale and coverage.

This summer, the service will first cover popular routes, including trains heading to the Black Sea coast and the Caucasian Mineral Waters resorts. A total of 164 train pairs will operate on these lines, making over 30,000 trips. Passengers will be able to stay online continuously, regardless of gaps in ground-based mobile networks. The introduction of satellite-based internet on trains marks a step toward improving travel connectivity in Russia. With 164 train pairs set to offer the service, thousands of journeys will now include uninterrupted online access. The system's success will depend on the reliability of the domestic Skynet/Sfera constellation, which still lags behind global competitors in deployment.