Nokia and satellite sector specialist ICEYE inked a deal to develop sovereign low Earth orbit (LEO)-based communications systems for government use cases including defence, border security and disaster response.
The Finnish pair aim to launch the first communications satellites for the project in 2028, noting the planned systems would give nations ownership and control of the satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals.
In a joint statement, they explained they intend to deliver “targeted, high-throughput, low-latency connectivity over priority mission areas” to complement existing military and commercial networks rather than replace them.
Their birds are expected to add reach, resilience and capacity for critical connections.
The pact draws on ICEYE’s expertise in delivering sovereign satellite projects in Europe, and Nokia’s experience in networks and defence.
They plan to “integrate satellites, ground infrastructure and ruggedised end-user terminals” to extend ICEYE’s so-called sovereign intelligence from space business model to satellite communications.
The satellite company has customers in defence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management, among others, operating what it describes as the world’s largest and most advanced synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation.
It provides data services and whole sovereign satellite projects.
Complementary
ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafal Modrzewski said “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.”
Nokia president and CEO Justin Hotard added “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”.
He added the joint project would complement terrestrial networks “giving nations the situational awareness, connectivity and control they need to operate with confidence in contested environments across all domains”.
The move is the latest from European companies targeting increasing demand for sovereign technology systems from commercial and public sector organisations.
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