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Nokia, ICEYE Sign LOI with Ukraine's Defence Ministry for Sovereign Satellite Communications
The two companies signed a letter of intent with Ukraine's Defence Ministry in Kyiv on Oct 22 to explore building a sovereign, Ukrainian-controlled satellite communications capability using trusted European technology.
Why it matters
Ukraine is seeking to reduce reliance on a single commercial satellite network after reports that Starlink restricted Ukrainian connections. The LOI is a first step toward a sovereign Ukrainian satcom capability and marks a new phase of European defence-space cooperation.
Full report
On Oct 22, 2026, Finnish satellite company ICEYE and Nokia signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence to explore space cooperation supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities, focused on building a satellite communications capability owned and controlled by Ukraine. The LOI was announced in Kyiv during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Ukraine.
It extends the cooperation the two companies announced on Oct 1: developing secure, sovereignly owned broadband low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications systems for governments, using trusted European technology, with each nation owning and controlling its satellites, ground segment and terminals.
Under the joint system's overall program timeline, the first communications satellites are expected to launch in 2028. The LOI discloses no funding, procurement plans or timeline for the Ukraine project — it is exploratory cooperation, not a procurement commitment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement: "Modern warfare has proven that reliable communications is a matter of national security... this LOI is an important step in that direction."
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