Key facts
- The agreement aims to give Ukraine ownership over its satellites, ground segment, and terminals.
- Ukraine has relied on SpaceX's Starlink for battlefield communications, which has faced disruptions.
- ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski stated Ukraine needs secure, sovereign, and high-performance satellite communication systems.
- Nokia Defense Chairman Mikko Hautala said the project would give Ukraine control over its connectivity.
Finnish tech companies ICEYE and Nokia have signed a letter of intent with Ukraine's Defense Ministry to develop a sovereign satellite communications system for the country. The partnership, announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv, aims to provide Ukraine with secure and independent connectivity for its defense and emergency services. This initiative comes after Ukraine experienced disruptions to its current Starlink system, operated by SpaceX. The proposed system would grant Ukraine ownership of its satellites and ground infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted access to critical communication tools.