Satellite broadband services using Maritime VSAT technology will be made available to the following five nuclear icebreakers: Yamal, Arktika, 50 Let Pobedy, Vaigach, Taimyr, Sevmorput (a nuclear-powered lighter carrier), and diesel icebreaker Ob.

To arrange connectivity on the Russian icebreaker vessels, RSCC uses a group broadband satellite channel in VSAT networks operating in the C- and Ku-bands on the Express-AM6, Express-AM33 and Express-AM5 spacecraft. Let it be recalled in this context that at this point the RSCC satellite constellation covers 97% of the Northern Sea Route waters.

RSCC has implemented an innovative solution to use Express-AM satellites based on Maritime VSAT technology, thanks to which the crews and passengers of icebreakers will have access to the most modern telecommunication services. They include access to corporate local networks, data transmission, telephone communication with a single numbering of office automatic telephone exchange, work-related and public access to the Internet, monitoring of IP traffic, the ability to transmit video traffic to the Atomflot Center for Navigation of Vessels of the Marine Operations Headquarters, etc.

Throughout 2020, RSCC has also participated in the commissioning of a new type of nuclear icebreaker. In particular, a project was implemented to provide satellite communications for carrying out sea acceptance tests of the cross-functional nuclear icebreaker Arktika. After the sea trials in November 2020, the icebreaker Arktika was incorporated in the Atomflot fleet and began operations on the Northern Sea Route.

Yuri Prokhorov, Acting General Director of RSCC, says: “We are pleased to have built cooperation with Atomflot, which was launched in 2013. I am sure that the competencies accumulated through our joint projects, as well as our extensive expertise in providing innovative communication services in the difficult conditions of the northern seas will continue to be in demand on vessels of various classes on the Northern Sea Route.”