Nokia and Iceye partner to develop sovereign satellite connectivity systems
Type: Partnership · Technology: Telecom · Country: Finland · Announced: 2026-10-01
Nokia partnered with Iceye to jointly develop ‘‘sovereign satellite’’ connectivity systems based on low-Earth orbit satellites, a deal announced in the article on 2026-10-01. The systems are intended to be owned and operated by nation states and to act as backup communications when terrestrial networks are disrupted, complementing military and commercial networks. Iceye will bring its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation capabilities to the collaboration, while Nokia will contribute communications systems expertise; the first satellites from the programme are scheduled for launch in 2028. The partnership targets government and defence customers in Europe and beyond, supporting national telecom sovereignty objectives mentioned alongside an EU proposal for EU-controlled backup satellites. No financial terms, capacity in MW/GW, or specific launch contract values were disclosed in the article.
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