Russia Limits Operations of Foreign Communications Satellite Operators

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: This week, the Russian government has published a document outlining new rules that limit foreign communications satellite operators inside the country. The Russian government will require all foreign communications satellite companies to pass all incoming traffic through a ground gateway station. This means satellite operators won't be able to beam communications directly to customers without going through a ground station first. The Russian government cited an espionage threat of allowing foreign satellite companies to transmit data directly within the country's border, but critics of the Kremlin regime say the new requirement will enable Russian government agencies to intercept any incoming traffic. The new rules, set to enter into effect in six months, will also force all foreign communications satellite companies to obtain a permit from Russian authorities even before operating in the country. The Russian Defense Ministry, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Federal Protective Service (FSO) will be in charge of reviewing applicants.

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