Nokia and ICEYE Partner for Sovereign Satellite Communications
Nokia and ICEYE are developing secure broadband low Earth orbit satellite systems to give governments full control over their defense and emergency communications.
The satellite intelligence company ICEYE and connectivity infrastructure provider Nokia announced a partnership on October 1, 2026, to develop secure, sovereign, and high-performance broadband low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications systems. The project targets governments and defense customers, focusing on missions such as border security, emergency services, and disaster response.
The partnership aims to eliminate national dependency on foreign commercial operators by providing countries with full ownership and control over satellites, ground segments, and terminals. These systems are designed to complement existing military and commercial networks, offering high-throughput and low-latency connectivity in contested environments where terrestrial networks may be disrupted.
Company leaders announced the collaboration in Helsinki, Finland, ahead of the Helsinki Security Forum. The first communications satellites under this joint venture are expected to launch in 2028.
