In hunt for Starlink alternative, Ukraine partners with Nokia and satellite maker ICEYE

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense signed a letter of intent with Finnish technology companies Nokia and ICEYE. ICEYE makes satellites. The planned partnership will develop new defense and satellite communication capabilities for Ukraine. It matters because reliable communications have become a national-security issue during the war.

The agreement is part of Ukraine’s response to restrictions on SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield services. Those restrictions disconnected drones and other aircraft, especially when they traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. Nokia could contribute communications technology, while ICEYE brings satellite expertise, although the article does not specify the final systems or delivery schedule.

Ukraine is also working with Norway on air-defense and communications systems. Together, these efforts show Kyiv seeking sovereign or controllable alternatives. They will not immediately replace Starlink. A defense analyst said there is currently no drop-in replacement for the service, which means Ukraine still faces a gap while new capabilities are developed.

Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet service, while Starshield is its defense-oriented satellite communications service. Together, they provide connectivity that Ukraine uses for drones and other military systems. The article does not describe every technical difference between the services, but it shows that both matter to wartime operations.

The connection supports systems that need fast, reliable data links. Ukraine officials said restrictions affected drones or other aircraft traveling faster than 100 miles per hour. When those vehicles lost connectivity, fast-moving drones disconnected and some dropped out of the sky. That makes satellite access part of operational capability, not merely office communications.

The dependence creates a strategic vulnerability. SpaceX can change or restrict service, while Ukraine cannot quickly substitute another network. Officials are therefore seeking partnerships with Nokia, ICEYE, and Norway. Rivals are developing competing systems, but a senior defense analyst said no drop-in replacement for Starlink exists today.

When Starlink connectivity was restricted, Ukraine reported that fast-moving drones disconnected and some dropped from the sky. The disruption mattered because drones and other military aircraft rely on communications links while operating. A lost link can interrupt data exchange, coordination, or remote control, making the vehicle harder to operate safely.

Ukraine officials said the restrictions affected drones or other aircraft traveling faster than 100 miles per hour. The article does not identify the precise technical feature that triggered the restriction, but it clearly links the speed threshold to lost connectivity. The immediate result was operational disruption, including drones falling from the sky.

As of Friday, restrictions were still affecting Ukraine. President Donald Trump said he would ask Elon Musk to lift them, while lawmakers from both parties called for a formal probe. Meanwhile, Ukraine is pursuing Nokia, ICEYE, and Norwegian partnerships because replacing the connection quickly is difficult.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, investors have directed about $8 billion toward alternatives to Starlink and Starshield. The figure comes from research by Chad Anderson, CEO of Space Capital, which tracks industry deals. It shows that concerns about dependence on one provider are driving substantial investment.

About $3.9 billion of that total went to potential Starlink competitors. Most of that funding went to Spacesail and China SatNet. These companies are therefore among the most heavily funded challengers identified in the article, although the article does not provide their deployment schedules or current service coverage.

The investment reflects a wider search for resilient satellite communications. Ukraine is pursuing Nokia, ICEYE, and Norway, while other countries are developing sovereign systems. Still, Virginia Burger of the Project on Government Oversight said there is no drop-in Starlink replacement today. Funding can accelerate competition, but building usable networks takes time.

Several companies and governments are building alternatives to Starlink. Amazon is developing Leo, France’s Eutelsat is another rival, and Blue Origin plans a service called TeraWave. The European Union is building IRIS², a constellation intended to include hundreds of satellites. These projects aim to reduce dependence on one provider.

Their readiness varies. TeraWave has not deployed its first satellites. The article gives no launch timetable for Amazon’s Leo or Eutelsat’s system. IRIS² is further defined as a large European project, but its first launches are not expected until 2029. Ukraine is also pursuing Nokia, ICEYE, and Norway for communications and defense capabilities.

These alternatives could eventually widen customer choice and national control. They cannot immediately solve Ukraine’s problem, however. Virginia Burger said there is no drop-in replacement for Starlink, while new constellations require time, investment, and deployment. For now, Ukraine must manage existing restrictions while developing longer-term options.

A satellite communications network can become a national-security asset during war. If another company or government controls access, it may be able to change or restrict service. Ukraine’s experience showed the danger: Starlink restrictions disrupted drones and other aircraft. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said countries should rely on capabilities they can control.

The issue is practical, not abstract. Ukraine officials said aircraft traveling faster than 100 miles per hour lost connectivity. Lawmakers in the United States are seeking a formal probe into alleged unilateral changes by SpaceX. Donald Trump said he would ask Elon Musk to lift the restrictions, showing how service decisions can become political and military issues.

Dependence may also affect international business. Jay Shambaugh warned that unreliable alliances could reduce U.S. exports to the European Union if countries avoid dependence on systems that can be cut off. Ukraine is therefore pursuing Nokia, ICEYE, Norway, and longer-term sovereign alternatives.

A satellite constellation uses many satellites working together to provide coverage over wide areas. As satellites move, different spacecraft can hand connections to one another, helping users maintain internet access. This general mechanism explains why satellite networks can serve users far from conventional communications infrastructure. The article emphasizes that modern combat increasingly needs high-speed internet.

Replacing a mature constellation is difficult because one satellite cannot provide the same continuous coverage and capacity. A rival needs many spacecraft, launches, user terminals, network management, and supporting ground systems. The article does not detail these components, but it states that IRIS² will contain hundreds of satellites and that TeraWave has not yet deployed its first satellites.

That scale creates a time gap. Investors have committed about $8 billion to alternatives since Russia’s invasion, yet Virginia Burger said there is no drop-in replacement for Starlink. New networks may improve sovereignty and competition, but they cannot appear instantly during a war.