ICEYE and Nokia partner to launch secure and sovereign satellite communications for governments and defense customers
The planned systems would put satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals under the ownership and control of participating nations.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Nokia (NOK) and ICEYE announced a partnership to develop sovereign satellite broadband communications systems for government and defense customers.
The companies plan to integrate low Earth orbit satellites, ground infrastructure and end-user terminals. The planned systems would give participating nations ownership and control of those components, supporting defense, border security, emergency services and disaster response. They are designed to complement military and commercial networks rather than replace them. The companies expect the first communications satellites to launch in 2028.
Key Figures
- First satellite launches
- 2028
- First communications satellites are expected to launch
Key Terms
low earth orbit (leo) technical
ground segment technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
ICEYE and Nokia partner to launch secure and sovereign satellite communications for governments and defense customers
- Sovereign, dual-use satellite communications systems owned and operated by the nations that use them.
Helsinki, Finland – October 1, 2026 – ICEYE, the European leader in sovereign intelligence from space, and Nokia, a global leader in connectivity infrastructure, today announced a partnership to develop secure, sovereign and high-performance broadband low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications systems for governments, supporting missions from defense and border security to emergency services and disaster response. Built on trusted European technology, the jointly developed satellite communications systems will give nations ownership and control of the satellites, ground segment and terminals. The first communications satellites are expected to be launched in 2028.
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. Governments therefore need resilient communications infrastructure that remains available under the most demanding conditions, and that they can fully own and control.
The jointly developed sovereign systems will deliver targeted, high-throughput, low-latency connectivity over priority mission areas. Designed to complement military and commercial networks rather than replace them, it will add reach, resilience and capacity, helping governments and defense organizations maintain critical connections wherever operations take place.
The partnership brings together ICEYE’s track record delivering sovereign satellite missions with Nokia’s extensive experience in secure networking technologies and growing defense portfolio. Together, the companies will integrate satellites, ground infrastructure and ruggedized end-user terminals to extend ICEYE’s sovereign intelligence from space business model to satellite communications.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: “Together with Nokia, we are building on our proven space intelligence expertise and delivering sovereign, high-performance satellite communications. Nations must be able to fully own and control their communications, without dependency on a foreign commercial operator’s terms of service. We delivered Poland its own radar satellite system in under a year. Partnering with Nokia lets us move at a similar speed for satellite communications, on the timelines nations need.”
Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia, said: “Sovereign operations depend on the ability to sense, decide and act in real time. Physical AI makes that possible, but only with secure, resilient connectivity across land, sea, air and space. By bringing together Nokia's trusted networks with ICEYE’s proven sovereign space capabilities, we will deliver a satellite communications capability—complementing existing terrestrial networks, and giving nations the situational awareness, connectivity, and control they need to operate with confidence in contested environments across all domains.”
Modrzewski and Hotard will take the stage at the Helsinki Security Forum on October 2 for a session titled "How to Salvage Europe's Technological Sovereignty."
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity infrastructure, enabling the AI supercycle. We build networks that connect intelligence and deliver a comprehensive connectivity solution across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core, and data center networks. With security by design, AI-driven innovation, and AI-optimized architecture, Nokia delivers trusted infrastructure that enables AI to scale and advances connectivity to secure a brighter world.
Media inquiries
Nokia Press Office
Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
About ICEYE
ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.
ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.
ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defense and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.
Natively European, founded in Finland. ICEYE operates globally with over 1,000 employees.
Media contact: press@iceye.com
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
When are Nokia and ICEYE's first communications satellites expected to launch?
The first communications satellites are expected to launch in 2028. Nokia and ICEYE are partnering to develop sovereign broadband satellite communications systems for government and defense customers.