ICEYE and Nokia have announced a strategic partnership to develop secure, sovereign, high-performance broadband low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications systems for governments. The initiative was unveiled on October 1, 2026, in Helsinki, Finland, and it will support missions spanning defense, border security, emergency services, and disaster response. The first communications satellites are expected to launch in 2028, providing a concrete timeline for new European space-based connectivity capabilities in contested and remote operating environments.
Sovereign Ownership and Control
The jointly developed systems will give nations full ownership and control of the satellites, ground segment, and terminals. This approach reduces dependency on foreign commercial operators and their terms of service, which is a core concern for governments operating in sensitive security environments. Such sovereignty is especially important for defense forces, first responders, and civil authorities that must maintain command systems under demanding conditions, including natural disasters and military contingencies.
Resilience When Terrestrial Networks Fail
When terrestrial networks are disrupted or compromised, defense forces, first responders, and civil authorities risk losing access to the information and command systems they depend on. The planned LEO communications systems will deliver targeted, high-throughput, low-latency connectivity over priority mission areas to keep essential operations running. They will complement military and commercial networks by adding reach, resilience, and capacity rather than replacing existing infrastructure, giving governments additional layers of secure connectivity.
Combining Space and Networking Expertise
ICEYE brings a track record of delivering sovereign satellite missions, including radar satellite systems for governments, while Nokia contributes extensive experience in secure networking technologies and a growing defense portfolio. The partnership will integrate satellites, ground infrastructure, and ruggedized end-user terminals to extend ICEYE’s sovereign intelligence model to satellite communications. Together, the companies aim to help governments maintain critical connections wherever operations take place, accelerating sovereign deployments.
Executive Perspectives
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said nations must be able to fully own and control their communications without dependency on a foreign commercial operator’s terms of service. He noted that ICEYE delivered Poland its own radar satellite system in under a year. Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia, said sovereign operations depend on sensing, deciding, and acting in real time with secure, resilient connectivity across land, sea, air, and space.
Next Steps and Forum Appearance
Modrzewski and Hotard will take the stage at the Helsinki Security Forum on October 2 for a live-streamed session titled 'How to Salvage Europe’s Technological Sovereignty.' The appearance follows the partnership announcement and will provide additional insight into how the collaboration supports European technology independence and strategic autonomy in critical technologies. The first communications satellites are expected to launch in 2028, underscoring the timeline for delivering operational sovereign connectivity to governments.
This partnership signals a significant step toward greater European technological sovereignty in secure satellite communications. By offering governments full control over space and ground assets, ICEYE and Nokia are addressing a clear gap in resilient connectivity for critical national missions. Industry observers will be watching closely as the companies move toward the planned 2028 launch and further development of sovereign space-based networks.