Translated material
Battle for space
Roscosmos intends to participate in the implementation of the OneWeb project, despite the objections of the FSB. The head of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin called the position of security forces on this issue “excessive skepticism” and announced his intention to continue the discussion about the future of the system in the government. According to some reports, the launches of British communication satellites of Soyuz launch vehicles from the Baikonur cosmodrome can begin at the end of this year.
At the end of last year, there were reports that Russia offers an option by 12.5% in this project in exchange for the allocation of operating frequencies in the Russian Federation. With a request for admission to the Russian market, Oneweb applied to the State Commission on Radio frequencies repeatedly, but invariably received a refusal. Especially for work in our country in the summer of 2017, a joint enterprise Uanweb was created, where part of the shares belongs to the satellite communication system, which is part of the Roscosmos structure. Also, Roscosmos received a contract for the withdrawal of part of the OneWeb spacecraft into orbit.
Cosmonauts in space / roscosmos.ru“We are talking about the fact that a share can be obtained both in a large OneWeb and a joint venture, where our company has a“ messenger ”of 40%. So far, we are acting in terms of a joint Russian enterprise, increasing our share to the control package, ”said Roskosmos CEO in a large interview with RBC . It is assumed that the issue with the allocation of frequencies will be resolved after reaching agreements on the redistribution of shares.
Recall that in October last year, the Federal Security Service opposed the deployment of the project over the territory of Russia. The department believes that Oneweb poses a threat to our national security. “The guarantees that the satellite communications system is not a reconnaissance in nature and will not be able to damage the interests of the personality and society of the Russian Federation are more declarative in nature and cannot be reliably checked by the Russian side,” the READOV agency presum The Representative of the FSB, REDUTERS. In addition to this, gardeners expressed fears that Oneweb would become a monopolist in the remote corners of Russia, which will make the Russian operators unprofitable and put a number of regions in full depending on foreign communication systems. The FSB see an alternative in organizing the domestic system together with India, China and other states that "do not conduct aggressive policy against Russia."
Satellite Antenna / Pixabay.com“It must be borne in mind that this orbital grouping by our partners will still be created whether we want it or not. It’s just that the stations of ground infrastructure will be, perhaps, not in our territory, but in Ukraine or other countries, and will fully provide Internet traffic, ”the head of Roscosmos warns. - And we will fall out of this project, not having the opportunity to influence it and technically control. Therefore, we believe that this project will, in principle, will be implemented. But it is better to implement it with our participation. ”
In November 2018, the Ministry of Communications of Russia launched the bill “On Amending the Article of the Federal Law“ On Communications ”. Its goal is to “prevent threats of national security due to the use of foreign satellite communication systems and access to the Internet on the territory of the Russian Federation, with the uncontrolled import of subscriber terminals of the mobile satellite service and subscriber earth stations and operating within the fixed satellite service.” Experts believe that the law is directed against Oneweb and Starlink systems.
Greg Wyler / YouTube.comOneweb is one of the largest telecommunication projects in the world, founded by Greg Wahler, who had previously worked in Google. He suggested the creation of a network of 900 low-orbited satellites, but in December their number decreased to 600. The world's largest companies, such as Coca-Cola, Hughes and Virgin Group, have already invested more than $ 1.7 billion in this venture. By 2027, Oneweb intends to provide high -speed Internet to all residents of the planet, as well as provide communications with all types of transport, including aviation.
In the meantime, the company constantly endures the first launch of satellites. It was planned at the end of 2017, but the deadlines were transferred several times. The company Arienspace, which should also take part in launches under a contract with OneWeb, said on Wednesday that satellites will begin to launch Baikonur from the Cosmodrome only in the fourth quarter of 2019.