ICEYE and Nokia explore sovereign satellite communications system for Ukraine
Finnish satellite company ICEYE and telecommunications giant Nokia have signed a letter of intent with Ukraine's Defense Ministry to explore developing a satellite communications system that Ukraine could control independently.
The agreement was announced on October 22 during Finnish Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine, according to an ICEYE statement.
The proposed cooperation would focus on secure, sovereign satellite communications to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on communications infrastructure outside its control.
“Ukraine needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls,” said ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafal Modrzewski.
Earlier in October, ICEYE and Nokia announced a separate partnership to develop broadband satellite communications systems in low Earth orbit for government and defense customers. The planned systems would allow countries to own and control their satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals.
Mikko Hautala, chairman of Nokia Defense, said satellite networks could maintain connectivity when terrestrial networks were disrupted, making them essential to resilient communications.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had agreed to expand its use of Finnish satellite capabilities.
The letter of intent marks an exploratory stage of cooperation. The companies have not announced a construction contract, deployment timeline or operational date for a Ukrainian system.