Helsinki, Oct. 1 -- ICEYE and Nokia have partnered to develop secure and sovereign broadband low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications systems for governments, with the first communications satellites expected to be launched in 2028, the companies said on Wednesday.

The companies, in an official statement, highlighted that the jointly developed systems will be designed for government and defence customers, supporting missions ranging from defence and border security to emergency services and disaster response.

Under the partnership, nations using the systems will have ownership and control of the satellites, ground segment and terminals. The companies said the systems will be built using European technology and are intended to prov...