Russia’s Rassvet satellite system is being developed with direct connectivity to mobile devices in mind, eliminating the need for additional ground terminals. According to Russian air defense expert Yuri Knutov, this capability was built into the project from the outset and is expected to become one of its key differences from Starlink.

Knutov believes that Rassvet could outperform Elon Musk’s satellite network in several areas. At the same time, he acknowledged Starlink’s major advantages, including the compact size of its satellites and the enormous scale of the constellation. According to the expert, SpaceX plans to eventually deploy up to 100,000 satellites, while Russia has so far launched only the second batch of Rassvet spacecraft.

Knutov expects the Russian system to become operational by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Another significant difference between the two projects concerns their orbital parameters. According to him, Starlink satellites operate at an altitude of around 400 kilometers or lower, while Rassvet spacecraft are positioned at approximately 600 kilometers above Earth.

The expert noted that SpaceX intends to lower the orbit of some of its satellites by another 50 kilometers. The move is expected to expand direct-to-device capabilities, allowing ordinary smartphones to connect to the satellite network without a separate terminal. Such technology could be used by civilians as well as for communications with drones or Ukrainian military personnel.

Knutov claims that terminal-free connectivity was incorporated into Rassvet from the very beginning. Users therefore would not need separate receiving equipment to access the satellite network.

Another key feature is laser communication between satellites. According to Knutov, the technology has already been tested and is expected to provide high-speed, high-quality data transmission. Trial broadcasts have also reportedly demonstrated the system’s functionality and effectiveness.

Rassvet is therefore being developed around two major capabilities: direct satellite connectivity with mobile devices and high-speed laser communication between spacecraft. These are among the features that, in Knutov’s assessment, could give the Russian system an advantage over Starlink.