Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, together with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE, is considering the possibility of creating a sovereign satellite communications system for defense purposes. The initiative involves a secure network that Ukraine could operate independently.
According to ICEYE, the potential system would provide Ukraine with control over the satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals. The document signed by the parties opens the way for further cooperation, although no contract for the production of satellites for Ukraine has been announced so far.
Low Earth Orbit Satellite Network
In early October, Nokia and ICEYE announced the joint development of broadband satellite communications systems in low Earth orbit (LEO). The companies plan to offer such systems to governments for military needs, border protection, emergency services and emergency response.
Under the companies’ concept, governments would be able to own not only the satellites but also all the necessary infrastructure — ground stations and user equipment. This would enable them to independently control the network’s operations and avoid dependence on the terms of commercial operators.
The systems are also expected to provide communications when terrestrial networks are damaged or unavailable. The first satellites under the joint Nokia and ICEYE project are planned for launch in 2028. However, the companies did not specify whether this timeline would apply to the potential Ukrainian system.
Companies’ Experience and Cooperation with Ukraine
ICEYE specializes in satellite technology and radar intelligence. The company develops synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites that can produce images of the Earth’s surface regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. ICEYE has been cooperating with Ukraine since 2022.
Nokia develops telecommunications equipment and network technologies. In the joint satellite project, the companies plan to combine ICEYE’s experience in building space systems with Nokia’s secure communications technologies.
ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafał Modrzewski said that Ukraine needs satellite communications that it can control independently. According to him, the company is ready to use its experience in building satellite systems to develop such capabilities.
Mikko Hautala, head of Nokia Defense, emphasized that satellite networks can support communications when ground infrastructure is not functioning. That is why the companies want to explore the possibility of creating a secure system together with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
The parties did not disclose the cost of the potential project, the number of satellites, technical specifications, sources of funding or implementation timeline.
Starshield Restrictions
On the night of October 14, SpaceX imposed restrictions on the movement speed of Starlink satellite communications terminals. The limit affected the military Starshield service package and was set at 100 miles per hour, or approximately 160 km/h.
Ukrainian military personnel were not warned about the new restriction. As a result, several missions were disrupted, although it was not specified which operations were affected or how many there were.
The following day, eight brigades of the Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed to AIN that the Starshield system had resumed operation on October 15.
