Nokia and ICEYE expect to launch first communications satellites under partnership in 2028

Key Facts

Nokia, Finnish company ICEYE and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry signed a letter of intent to explore space cooperation, with a stated focus on developing sovereign satellite communications to support Ukraine’s defense. The understanding was announced on 22 October 2026 during the Finnish prime minister’s visit to Ukraine, according to an ICEYE statement. The letter is not an implementation contract or an announcement of a system ready to operate; the companies describe the step as the start of exploring cooperation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "Modern warfare has shown that reliable communications are a matter of national security." He added that his country needs capabilities "that we can control," pointing to the importance of having communications infrastructure that does not depend entirely on an external provider.

The broader partnership between Nokia and ICEYE aims to develop broadband communications systems via low Earth orbit satellites, providing services to governments for applications including defense, border security, emergencies and disaster response. The companies said the proposed model would give countries ownership of the satellites, ground segment and terminals, enabling them to manage and control network elements. The first communications satellites under the partnership are expected to launch in 2028, according to a Nokia statement. The company said the systems are designed "to complement military and commercial networks rather than replace them." That means the announced vision places them within a multi-network infrastructure, not as an immediate replacement for existing communications.

The move comes as Ukraine faces restrictions on Starshield, the military version of Starlink, according to Associated Press coverage. The agency reported that the restrictions had raised concerns among military and government officials, with reports of lost drones and disrupted missions. The measures included a speed cap that cuts off data connectivity when a terminal moves at more than 160 kilometers per hour, a common speed for Ukrainian aircraft equipped with the service. An adviser to the Ukrainian president said Starshield is the backbone of the country’s drone operations and that the service is managed under a package overseen by the Pentagon and the U.S. government, with terms and fees separate from the civilian service. Zelenskyy said the restrictions remained in place despite Donald Trump’s statement that the service had returned to full speed.

Kyiv is seeking additional communications options in case it loses access to Starlink, as well as to counter Russian attempts to disrupt the network through electronic warfare, according to the Associated Press. A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the country is in active negotiations with the Pentagon, SpaceX and the U.S. government over the restrictions on the military service. Ukraine is also exploring Amazon’s satellite network and Eutelsat’s OneWeb service, the agency reported. During the Finnish visit, the Ukrainian presidency said seven documents were signed at the Ukraine-Finland Business Forum covering defense, unmanned systems, transport, satellite communications and construction. Zelenskyy said the approximate total value of that day’s agreements was 300 million euros, without specifying what share of that total was represented by the letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Finland had agreed to make greater use of Finnish satellite capabilities to support defense and resilience in Ukraine and Europe. ICEYE added that the company has supported Ukraine since 2022, as the proposed partnership expands cooperation from satellite services to a system comprising satellites, ground components and terminals. The published statements do not specify when a dedicated service for Ukraine would begin operating or provide details on its financing and implementation terms. The first announced milestone in the partnership is the expected launch of communications satellites in 2028. Separately, Nokia’s net sales in the third quarter of 2026 rose 9% year over year in constant currency, comparable operating margin increased 220 basis points to 11.7%, and its shares closed at $7.88 on 22 October; available statements do not link these figures to the communications agreement.