Ukraine to get its own satellite communications system: ICEYE and Nokia to explore the project

Ukraine plans to create its own secure satellite communications system, fully controlled by the state. To advance this initiative, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia.

The signing took place yesterday, October 22, during a visit to Ukraine by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The cooperation is at an early stage: the parties will assess the feasibility of the project and continue developing it. The letter of intent itself does not mean that the system is being launched. No specific timelines or funding amounts have been announced.

Earlier in October, ICEYE and Nokia announced a joint effort to develop secure broadband satellite communications in low Earth orbit. In such systems, data is transmitted via satellites orbiting relatively close to Earth.

A key feature of the proposed model is state ownership and control of the entire system. Ukraine will be able to manage its components independently:

• satellites;
• ground infrastructure;
• user terminals.

This approach is intended to eliminate dependence on external operators for critically important communications. The infrastructure is proposed for use in:

• defence;
• state border security;
• emergency services;
• disaster response.

“Ukraine needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls,” said ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafal Modrzewski.

He also noted that ICEYE has been supporting Ukraine since 2022.

Nokia Defense Director Mikko Hautala highlighted the ability of satellite networks to maintain communications even after ground infrastructure is damaged. He said the new system should give Ukraine the ability to independently control critically important communications. Satellite communications are also especially necessary in situations where ground networks cannot operate at all.

We wrote earlier:

• Pentagon receives White House order to restrict Starshield for Ukraine’s Armed Forces — Reuters
• Zelenskyy asks Musk to restore Starlink: outages could cost lives
• Ukraine is creating its own Starlink alternative — Zelenskyy
• A new sky for attacks: Russia is creating its own Starlink to control drones
• Starlink isn’t the only option: Ukraine sets its sights on its own Space Force