Pavel Cherenkov, the managing director of JSC Satellite System Gonets, oversees a company that participates in the Sphere program and operates the Sfera division. Recent reports indicate that Starlink and OneWeb claim access to the same frequency bands as Russia s Skif system, a tension point for spectrum coordination in the region. This situation has drawn attention from international regulators and operators alike as spectrum use becomes a critical factor for cross border services in North America and Europe as well as in Russia.
Cherenkov noted that Sphere’s projects were among the earliest to receive attention from the International Telecommunication Union and that the same authorities later evaluated submissions from Starlink and OneWeb. The early engagement underscores how multinational satellite initiatives compete for scalable broadband capabilities while complying with global spectrum frameworks.
One of Sphere s partners is actively pursuing the product range needed to enable Skif to operate effectively. The collaboration highlights how equipment ecosystems and regulatory approvals converge to support next generation satellite internet services in diverse markets from Canada to the United States and beyond.
Cherenkov explained that Starlink and OneWeb proposed a plan to coordinate frequencies, but that proposal was declined. In his view, satellite services would not be allowed to operate on Russian soil without alignment with the national spectrum regime, a policy that shapes how international constellations interact with domestic networks.
The first Skif D apparatus under the Sphere program was launched in October aboard a Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket, accompanied by three Gonets M satellites. The Skif group is being developed to provide broadband internet access and to expand resilient connectivity options in remote and underserved areas, a topic of interest for customers across North America and Central Asia alike.
The Skif project thus stands as a strategic step toward expanding high speed internet access through domestic and international collaborations, while balancing regulatory considerations and market demands. In parallel, late November reports noted that Starlink equipment imported into Ukraine would not incur customs duties and taxes, a development with implications for regional logistics and the broader global satellite industry.