Nokia and ICEYE Develop Sovereign Satellite Networks for Europe

European governments could gain greater control over their military and emergency communications under a partnership announced in Helsinki on October 1, 2026, by Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE. The companies plan to develop government-owned low Earth orbit satellite networks, with initial deployments expected in 2028, as European countries seek alternatives to dependence on foreign commercial providers.

The proposed systems will combine broadband satellites, ground infrastructure and ruggedized user terminals. According to the companies, governments will own and control the entire network, supporting defense operations, border security, emergency services and disaster response.

Unlike subscription-based services, the Finnish partnership is designed to give each participating country direct ownership of its communications infrastructure. The companies have not disclosed the planned satellite count, project cost or names of any confirmed customers.

ICEYE co-founder and CEO Rafal Modrzewski said national ownership was essential to protecting communications from decisions made by external commercial operators.

"Nations must be able to fully own and control their communications without depending on the terms of service of a foreign commercial operator," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE.

The partnership builds on ICEYE's experience supplying satellite systems to European governments. The Finnish company specializes in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, which can observe Earth's surface at night and through cloud cover. ICEYE has more than 1,000 employees and has supplied its technology to several European Union member states.

Modrzewski said the company's previous work with Poland demonstrated its ability to deliver national satellite capabilities on an accelerated schedule.

"We delivered Poland its own radar satellite system in less than a year. This partnership with Nokia allows us to move just as quickly on satellite communications, within the timelines nations need," said Modrzewski.

Nokia contributes telecommunications infrastructure and secure networking expertise. CEO Justin Hotard emphasized the operational importance of reliable communications for government and defense users.

"Sovereign operations depend on the ability to perceive, decide and act in real time," said Justin Hotard, CEO of Nokia.

The planned network will provide targeted, high-speed, low-latency connectivity across priority areas, including maritime regions. According to the companies, the systems are intended to maintain communications when terrestrial networks fail or become unavailable during armed conflicts and natural disasters.

The initiative joins a broader European effort to establish independent satellite communications capabilities. The European Union is developing IRIS², a 348-satellite constellation involving Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, with a reported budget of 15.6 billion euros, including 11.6 billion euros in public funding.

IRIS² is scheduled for its first satellite launches in 2029, with operational services targeted for 2030. The Nokia-ICEYE partnership is aiming to begin deployments a year earlier, although the two projects differ in structure: IRIS² is a shared European infrastructure, while the Finnish offering is designed around individual governments owning their networks.

A joint announcement described the planned offering as "secure, sovereign and high-performance low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband satellite communications systems for governments."

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the strategic importance of satellite connectivity when terrestrial infrastructure is damaged or unavailable. European governments have consequently sought greater control over critical communications, including systems used by armed forces and emergency responders.

The Finnish initiative also faces a practical challenge: securing access to launch services. A report cited by Mer et Marine said SpaceX had stopped selling new rideshare missions on its Falcon 9 rocket, potentially making orbital access more difficult for satellite operators, including European companies, beyond 2028.