New-generation satellite communication tested on nuclear-powered icebreaker

Business & Economy November 12, 11:54

In the future, Bureau 1440's global coverage will provide stable communication and the broadband Internet access to vessels in the Northern Sea Route waters, including routes to the North Pole

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russia's Bureau 1440 aerospace company (part of X Holding), together with the Northern Sea Route's managing company - Glavsevmorput, the Atomflot state-run company managing the country's nuclear fleet, and the Federal Medical and Biological Agency conducted successful tests of new-generation satellite communications on board the Ural nuclear-powered icebreaker sailing along the Northern Sea Route, Bureau 1440 told reporters.

"It was for the first time in Russia that communication with the icebreaker was carried out through domestic low-orbit technologies, including own space and ground infrastructures," the company said. "In the future, Bureau 1440's global coverage will provide stable communication and the broadband Internet access to vessels in the Northern Sea Route waters, including routes to the North Pole, where other domestic satellite solutions are not available or cannot provide the necessary channel width."

Having used the 1440.ULTRA user terminal the ship's captain successfully joined a videoconference call, provided by the low-orbit Rassvet grouping, with Atomflot's office in Murmansk. He reported work on the voyage assignment and ice conditions on the route. Additionally, staff of the medical agency's Pirogov Murmansk Multidisciplinary Center from aboard the icebreaker contacted specialists at the agency's Burnazyan Center in Moscow. The medical staff successfully transmitted data of the icebreaker crew member's radiation diagnostics and other medical tests.

"The Bureau 1440 solution has confirmed practically it is ready to work in difficult temperature and operational conditions of the Northern Sea Route. The goal of working with shipping is to create a continuous digital circuit for shipowners and shippers, to provide infrastructures for higher logistics transparency, as well as stable communication for crews," Bureau 1440's Deputy CEO Dmitry Agafonov said.

The new-generation satellite communications will favor the widespread use of telemedicine technologies throughout the Northern Sea Route thus increasing the medical care efficiency, said Natalia Baranova, Head of the Air Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services Center at the Burnazyan Center. Atomflot's CEO Yakov Antonov expects that the implementation of Bureau 1440 solutions will offer options for creating a single digital fleet management circuit and improving logistics transparency and predictability throughout the Northern Sea Route by ensuring the reliable navigation in high latitudes.

In 2026, Bureau 1440 has successfully launched first two batches of the Rassvet grouping's low-orbit satellites. The spacecraft integrate a 5G NTN architecture communication system, an upgraded power supply system, new-generation inter-satellite laser communication terminals, and a plasma propulsion system.

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