Ukraine Partners With Nokia and ICEYE to Explore Sovereign Satellite Network

Ukraine is exploring plans to develop its own sovereign satellite communications capability through a new agreement with Finnish technology company Nokia and satellite specialist ICEYE. The initiative aims to give the country greater control over secure communications for military operations and critical services.

The three parties signed a Letter of Intent on 22 October 2026, involving Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. The announcement coincided with a visit to Ukraine by Finland’s Prime Minister and builds on an existing partnership between Nokia and ICEYE to develop satellite broadband systems for governments.

The proposed system would use low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide secure, high-performance connectivity, helping Ukraine maintain communications when terrestrial networks are damaged, disrupted or unavailable.

Greater Control Over Satellite Communications

A key objective of the initiative is to give Ukraine control over the infrastructure supporting its satellite communications, rather than relying entirely on capacity provided by foreign-operated satellite networks.

Under the proposed approach, participating governments would retain ownership and control of three main components: the satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals.

This could provide Ukraine with greater control over service availability, security and continuity, particularly during military conflicts when reliable communications are essential.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said reliable communications had become a matter of national security, highlighting the importance of developing capabilities that Ukraine could control independently.

The companies intend to build their systems using European technology, with potential applications extending beyond defence to include border security, emergency services and disaster response.

Low Earth Orbit Satellites Could Improve Resilience

Low Earth orbit satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, making them suitable for broadband communications requiring lower latency.

Such systems could support military personnel and mobile units operating in areas where conventional communications infrastructure has been damaged or where terrestrial connectivity is unreliable.

Satellite communications have become increasingly important during the war in Ukraine, where connectivity is essential for coordinating operations and maintaining communications across the country.

The proposed partnership could provide Ukraine with an additional option for maintaining secure communications while reducing its dependence on externally controlled satellite services.

Nokia’s involvement brings its telecommunications and networking expertise, while ICEYE contributes experience in satellite technology and sovereign space-based capabilities.

ICEYE has supported Ukraine since 2022, primarily through its satellite-based intelligence capabilities.

No Deployment Contract Has Been Confirmed

Despite the announcement, the agreement remains at an exploratory stage.

The Letter of Intent does not constitute a binding procurement or deployment contract, and the parties have not disclosed funding arrangements, satellite numbers, ground station requirements or a timetable for operational deployment.

Further work would be required to establish the technical requirements, secure funding, coordinate spectrum use and develop the infrastructure needed to operate a Ukrainian-controlled satellite communications network.

The initiative follows an announcement earlier in October that Nokia and ICEYE would collaborate on sovereign LEO broadband satellite systems for governments and defence organisations. That wider programme is intended to support secure connectivity for military operations, border security and emergency response, with the first satellites expected to launch in 2028.

For Ukraine, the agreement represents an initial step towards greater independence in satellite communications. However, whether the proposal develops into an operational network will depend on future investment, technical planning and procurement decisions.