Nokia and Finnish satellite company Iceye have entered a partnership to develop low Earth orbit satellite communication systems for governments and defence contractors, as demand grows for secure space-based communications for military and security operations.
The companies announced the partnership on Thursday, saying the systems would support a range of missions, including military operations, border security, emergency services and disaster response.
Under the agreement, Nokia and Iceye will develop secure, sovereign and high-performance broadband communications systems using low Earth orbit satellites. The first satellites under the programme are expected to be launched in 2028.
The companies said the systems would be designed to give governments greater control over critical satellite communications infrastructure, including the satellites, ground stations and user terminals.
“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 companies said in a statement.
The partnership brings together Nokia’s telecommunications and networking technology with Iceye’s expertise in satellite systems and Earth observation.
Low Earth orbit satellites operate much closer to the Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, allowing them to provide high-speed communications with lower latency.
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The technology has increasingly become important for governments, military organisations and emergency agencies that require reliable connectivity in areas where conventional communications infrastructure may be unavailable or disrupted.
Nokia and Iceye said their planned systems would be targeted at government and defence customers seeking secure communications infrastructure that can be controlled at the national level.
The systems are expected to support communications requirements during military and border operations, while also providing connectivity for emergency response and disaster management.
The partnership places the two companies in a growing low Earth orbit satellite communications market that includes major operators such as Starlink, owned by US-based SpaceX.
Governments and defence organisations have increasingly turned to satellite networks to maintain communications during conflicts, natural disasters and other situations where terrestrial networks can be damaged, overloaded or inaccessible.
The companies said further details of the satellite programme and its deployment would be announced as the project progresses, with the first launches planned for 2028.
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Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
