Nokia and Startup Iceye Partner to Launch New Satellite Communication Systems

By Dominic Chopping

Nokia and Finnish satellite company Iceye will partner to launch satellite communications systems for governments and defense customers.

Under a new agreement announced on Thursday, the two companies said they will jointly develop the new systems, which will support missions from defense and border security to emergency services and disaster response.

They said that when terrestrial networks are disrupted or compromised, defense forces, first responders and civil authorities risk losing access to information and command systems, so governments need resilient communications infrastructure that remains available under demanding conditions.

The systems will be designed to complement military and commercial networks rather than replace them, adding reach, resilience and capacity, they added.

The jointly developed systems will give nations ownership and control of the satellites, ground infrastructure and end-user terminals, with the first communications satellites expected to be launched in 2028.

Europe's new technology fund, Scaleup Europe, which was founded by the European Commission alongside other investors, recently co-led a $1 billion euro ($1.13 billion) funding round in Iceye at a valuation of more than 10 billion euros.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 01, 2026 03:52 ET (07:52 GMT)