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

Ukraine signed a letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE to develop alternative satellite communications after SpaceX restricted Starlink and Starshield, causing drone disconnections. SpaceX operates about 11,000 satellites; an executive said a viable alternative could be two to three years away, while matching Starlink's scale is a longer road. Pentagon documents say SpaceX is the only provider able to meet some needs through 2026. Ukraine officials said restrictions still affect drones traveling over 100 mph. Trump said he would call Musk to lift restrictions, and lawmakers from both parties seek a formal probe.

Rivals include Amazon's Leo, Eutelsat, and Blue Origin's TeraWave, but the EU's IRIS² constellation isn't expected to launch until 2029. About $8 billion has been invested in alternatives, $3.9 billion to potential competitors. An analyst noted no drop-in replacement for Starlink exists as combat increasingly relies on unmanned systems needing high-speed internet.

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