Nokia and ICEYE to help Ukraine build its own Starlink alternative for military
Ukraine, together with ICEYE and Nokia, is looking for an alternative to Starlink (Getty Images)
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has signed a letter of intent with the Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia regarding cooperation in space. The goal is to create its own secure satellite communications system, which will be controlled by Ukraine.
The letter of intent was signed on October 22 during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Ukraine. For now, this is just the first step: the parties have agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation. No specific timelines or funding details have been disclosed.
In early October, ICEYE and Nokia announced the joint development of a secure satellite broadband network in low Earth orbit, similar to Starlink. The main difference is that the government, as the client, will own and manage everything: the satellites, ground infrastructure, and terminals.
Such connectivity may be needed for defense, border security, emergency services, and disaster response.
"Ukraine needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls," says Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE. He notes that the company has been supporting Ukraine since 2022.
Mikko Hautala, President of Nokia Defense, emphasized that satellite networks safeguard communications when ground infrastructure is damaged. According to him, the system should give Ukraine control over the communications on which it depends.
Starting on the night of October 14, terminals on Ukrainian drones could only maintain a connection at speeds up to 160 km/h. The limit was lifted only a week later, and US President Donald Trump stated that Elon Musk had done so, without specifying whether he had asked Musk to do so himself.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing sources, linked the restrictions to the White House and called them part of the pressure being exerted on Ukraine. US lawmakers also intervened: 23 members of Congress asked Trump to urge Musk to grant Ukraine full access to the system.
