Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with ICEYE and Nokia to explore a satellite communications network under Ukrainian control, according to an October 24 report by Infodefensa. The report placed the signing on Thursday, October 22, during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s visit to Kyiv, and said President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the letter. The agreement starts an exploratory effort, not a deployed network.
What Ukrainian control is intended to cover
The proposed model would place satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals under the customer’s ownership and control. That scope describes the intended design; it does not mean Ukraine has acquired or deployed those assets.
For context on other options at different stages, see NeoTeo’s earlier overview of Ukraine’s Starlink alternatives.
What ICEYE and Nokia’s wider partnership adds
ICEYE describes a separate, broader government partnership with Nokia to develop communications in low Earth orbit, or LEO. It is intended to provide targeted, high-throughput, low-latency connectivity over priority mission areas, using satellites, ground infrastructure and ruggedized user terminals. Nokia brings secure networking and defense communications expertise to that partnership.
ICEYE says the wider system is meant to complement existing military and commercial networks. The company expected the partnership’s first satellite launches in 2028. That target applies to the broader partnership, not to a Ukrainian deployment schedule.
