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Ahead of the joint ITU and Intersputnik seminar at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) – Satellite Communications: Regulatory and Technical Aspects – we spoke with Andrey Kirillovich, Director of the Department of Strategy, Marketing and Business Development, Intersputnik. The organization, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary, unites 24 states and is actively developing a partnership with the ITU to build human capacity in satellite technology in the CIS region.

The shortage of qualified personnel is one of the constraining factors in the development of modern satellite communication systems. The joint ITU and Intersputnik project aims to develop human capacity and digital skills of specialists. It is expected to give an additional impetus to the implementation of projects in satellite communications and ICT in general, improve the quality of services provided and open up new opportunities for international expert cooperation, as well as promote the ICT industry and satellite technologies.

This interview covers how the organization’s work is structured, why the shortage of personnel persists, and how Intersputnik assesses the impact of low-orbit satellite constellations on the market.

— Intersputnik conducts its international activities and acts as a satellite communications operator throughout the world. Intersputnik has 24 member states, and it is headquartered in Moscow. Could you tell us how the Organization’s work is structured?

Our Organization is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, and throughout its more than half-century history it has contributed to the development of international cooperation in the field of satellite communications and broadcasting. Most of the Organization's Member States belong to developing regions. They are located in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Therefore, the issue of developing the ICT infrastructure, which is the task of our operator business, is particularly relevant for the Members of our Organization. 

The level of development of space and ICT technologies today allows for the rapid and efficient expansion of communication channels of any scale and the provision of a wide range of services at the global and national levels. When it comes to transmitting video content over a wide geographic area, satellite broadcasting is the undisputed leader among all technologies. Therefore, Intersputnik, relying on its intergovernmental status, facilitates the promotion and development of these technologies among its Member States and throughout the world to the greatest possible extent. 

8 of the 24 Intersputnik Signatories – national administrations and communications organizations designated by Member States – have their own geostationary satellite constellations. Some of them consist of 1 to 2 satellites, but there are also larger ones consisting of 10 to 15 satellites. By agreement with the Signatories, Intersputnik provides assistance in the sale of national satellite resources on foreign markets. For example, this year we have successfully implemented a project for direct-to-home broadcasting in one African country via our Signatory's satellite. Many commercial customers of Intersputnik operate through satellites of Member States in South, Southeast and North Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Intersputnik's supply chain also includes a large number of regional satellite operators cooperating with us to implement projects in Member States, as well as in the commercial market. Intersputnik currently manages a pool of nearly 3 GHz of leased capacity in the C, Ku, and Ka bands on 25+ geostationary satellites. 

— In an era of rapid technological development, one of the most serious challenges facing the satellite communications industry is the acute shortage of qualified personnel. At the same time, CIS countries retain a powerful scientific and technical legacy inherited from the Soviet space programme. What, in your opinion, are the main reasons for the shortage of subject matter experts in the region today, despite this rich past? 

Indeed, there are many ‘old school’ employees working in the CIS region. This is a highly solid foundation. But technology has moved on, and the state-of-the-art of satellite communications and the entire telecom industry places completely different demands on professional qualifications. The world is witnessing closer interaction or even merging of satellite and terrestrial communication networks, and the communications industry itself is converging with the IT sector. Moreover, due to the globalization of the world economy, the comprehensive development and acquisition of new technologies and competencies is not possible without international cooperation and experience exchange. This also applies to personnel training. This is why Intersputnik is implementing a strategic partnership with ITU with a focus on talent development. It is significant that our first joint events took place in the CIS region.

World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025

— How does participation in the project meet the long-term interests of Intersputnik’s Member States and Signatories and help them develop their national satellite systems?

The shortage of qualified personnel is today becoming one of the factors limiting the development of modern satellite communications systems in various regions of the world. We strive to change this situation. For this purpose, Intersputnik is undertaking extensive work aimed at developing the competencies and improving the qualifications of employees from the Organization's Member States. Intersputnik's activities include conducting training seminars, organizing industry conferences and round tables (NatSatTel), where employees can learn from experts and obtain information on current market developments and new technologies.

Another strategic priority of Intersputnik is supporting young employees from the Organization’s Member States as part of our Youth Far Beyond Borders (YFBB) project. Since 2023, more than 100 young people from 16 countries have taken part in it. Intersputnik's initiative to engage young people in the work of the international industry community is closely connected with ITU activities. Our young colleagues from Member States have been actively involved in major ITU events over the past few years: the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference, the 2025 ITU Global Youth Forum and the 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference.

We are confident that the experience gained at these ITU and Intersputnik events will help young employees from our Organization's Member States and their senior colleagues to transfer the acquired knowledge to the level of national communications administrations and other regulators and most effectively promote the sustainable development of national satellite systems.

— What key universities and research centres in the CIS and around the world does Intersputnik already collaborate with in the field of personnel training? What new educational partnerships are planned to be developed as part of the joint project with ITU?

Since most of our Member States are located in Asia, we currently collaborate primarily with educational institutions from this region. For example, in 2025, our training seminars were held jointly with the International University of Information Technology in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and the Azercosmos Space Academy in Baku (Azerbaijan). In addition, in 2026, we were one of the co-organizers of a scientific conference in Mongolia, held at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. In addition, our employees give lectures on regional satellite communications markets and space law at the Institute of Asian and African Studies in Moscow, as well as at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and St. Petersburg State University. We have also signed memorandum of understanding with leading higher education institutions in Indonesia to develop cooperation in building space communications capacity: Universitas Telkom, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan and Universitas Islam Indonesia. Our plans include expanding, in conjunction with ITU, the geography of training seminars beyond the CIS, in particular to South and Southeast Asia, as well as Africa and Eastern Europe.

— One of the most discussed topics in the industry today is the growing influence of low-orbit satellite constellations. In particular, SpaceX's Starlink constellation, which is already the largest and is expected to continue to dominate the broadband market. How does Intersputnik assess Starlink's impact on the global satellite communications market, and does the Organization see potential for cooperation with this operator?

Starlink is a pioneer in non-geostationary satellite constellations for mass broadband internet access. This project launched the most important process within the satellite industry – mass production in both the ground and space segments, which marked the beginning of a significant reduction in the cost of satellite solutions, including those in geostationary orbit. This applies both to personal users with satellite broadband terminals at home and to national communications administrations planning their own communications and broadcasting satellite. The cost of such solutions is now significantly lower than it was five years ago. This lowers the threshold for entry into the satellite club for many developing countries planning to develop sovereign satellite systems. In addition, other national and regional low-orbit constellations began to emerge.

— Do you believe that countries and regions should invest in their own independent low-orbit constellations, increasing their technological sovereignty, or is the current Starlink solution a more optimal and cost-effective way to connect the unconnected?

This is precisely the question that many of the communications administrations of Intersputnik and ITU member countries are currently asking. On one side of the scale are the speed of deployment and low cost of connection anywhere in the country using foreign low-orbit systems. On the other one – the sovereignty of national data, technological sovereignty and, most importantly, the virtually zero contribution of the communications industry to GDP when using foreign systems. Whereas, when using own resources, whether fibre-optic lines, microwave or satellites, jobs are created, value is generated within the country, and GDP grows. Indeed, it is unrealistic for each country to create its own low-orbit constellation, since its cost amounts to billions of dollars. However, the advantages of such constellations cannot be denied.

Therefore, we believe that development will follow a hybrid scenario. Low-orbit constellations will be used exclusively for broadband access by individuals (in the near future the choice of constellations will expand), and government projects and critical infrastructure facilities will operate on national geostationary satellites, the number of which will also grow in the future. Intersputnik has experience and extensive expertise in the design and implementation of national satellite programmes and is ready to provide comprehensive support to its Member States, as well as other countries planning a national system in geostationary orbit.