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

A Ukrainian uses a Starlink satellite-internet communication system on a rooftop in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Andrew Kravchenko | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAfter SpaceX restricted use of its Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services in Ukraine, causing fast-moving drones to disconnect and drop out of the sky, Kyiv is looking for alternatives.Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that it has signed a letter of intent to develop new defense and satellite communication capabilities in partnership with Finnish tech companies Nokia and ICEYE, which makes satellites. "Modern warfare has proven that reliable communications are a matter of national security," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement. "We must all rely on capabilities that we can control."Zelenskyy also announced a partnership with Norway this week to jointly develop air defense and communications systems that could serve as an alternative to Starshield.As of Friday, Ukraine officials said the country is still experiencing restrictions on Starlink, which cut connectivity for drones or other aircraft that travel at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Both the Trump administratio...