Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, ICEYE and Nokia signed a letter of intent to explore sovereign satellite communications for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen national control over defense connectivity.
Nokia said the letter of intent was signed Oct. 22 and the shared intent was announced during the Finnish prime minister’s visit to Ukraine. The agreement opens discussions about cooperation; it does not announce a completed or deployed satellite capability.
The talks build on a separate plan the companies announced earlier this month to develop broadband links for government users, delivered by satellites orbiting close to Earth. They said the model would leave participating governments with authority over spacecraft, ground segment and terminals. Possible uses include military communications, border protection, emergency response and disaster relief.
Mikko Hautala, Nokia’s chief geopolitical and government relations officer and chairman of Nokia Defense, said satellite links could help keep communications available if terrestrial networks fail. Rafal Modrzewski, ICEYE’s CEO and co-founder, said the company had worked with Ukraine since 2022 and would continue its support.
The satellite discussions follow a separate imagery arrangement. ICEYE said in January that an agreement with a customer in Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence maintained the ministry’s access to imagery from the company’s satellites. EconoTimes previously covered ICEYE’s imagery ties to Ukraine.
