Smart Mobility & Infrastructure: Space42 + e& partner to make autonomous vehicles “talk”
Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 14, 2025: Space42 and e& UAE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop, test and deploy Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies, setting the stage for next-gen autonomous mobility and smart infrastructure across the UAE.
What is V2X and what is this partnership about?
- V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology enables vehicles to communicate with other vehicles (V2V), with road infrastructure (V2I), with pedestrians/road-users (V2P), and with networks (V2N). This enhances situational awareness, safety and traffic efficiency.
- Under the MoU, Space42’s “Sovereign Mobility Cloud” and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems will be combined with e& UAE’s advanced connectivity: 5.5G networks, edge computing, secure communication channels, and a roadmap toward 6G.
- Key collaboration areas include:
- Connected Infrastructure & Networks: Integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, roadside units, edge compute nodes, and Space42’s cloud-based mobility backbone.
- Autonomous & Connected Mobility Pilots: Testing of AV shuttles, robot-taxis and logistics fleets in Abu Dhabi and other UAE smart mobility zones, leveraging the V2X infrastructure.
- Ecosystem & Commercial Models: Working with regulatory bodies like the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), and the Abu Dhabi Police to develop UAE-wide standards, certifications, business models for commercial roll-out.
Why this matters
- Safety & Efficiency Gains: With V2X, vehicles can receive and share real-time information about road conditions, traffic signals, pedestrian movements and more. This can reduce collisions, improve traffic flow and enable more predictable logistics.
- Enabling Autonomous Mobility at Scale: Autonomous vehicles (AVs) require not just sensors on board, but a reliable network of infrastructure, communication and cloud/edge computing. This partnership aims to create that foundation in the UAE.
- Technological Leadership & Sovereignty: By combining space, AI, telecom, cloud and mobility technologies, the UAE is reinforcing its ambition to be a global leader in smart mobility and digital infrastructure. Space42 emphasises its geospatial + AI capabilities; e& offers connectivity and telecom strength.
- Economic Opportunity: For businesses and investors, this opens doors in fleet electrification/automation, infrastructure hardware (sensors, roadside units), connectivity (5.5G/6G), cloud & edge platforms, mapping/HD data services, regulatory consulting, mobility-as-a-service models.
Implications & Timeline
- The MoU signals the move from pilot stage toward large-scale deployment. The UAE has already seen AV shuttles and robot-taxi services in zones like Saadiyat, Yas and Al Reem Island. Space42 reports over 600,000 km of autonomous driving and 20,000 passenger trips through its TXAI service since 2021.
- Over the coming months/years we should see:
- Roll-out of V2X-enabled road segments, roadside sensors, network integration.
- Pilots of robot-taxis, logistics AV fleets, in designated smart mobility zones.
- Regulatory and commercial frameworks—standards, certification, insurance models—being developed in tandem.
- From a business/tech perspective, we’ll be watching: what hardware vendors get involved (connectivity modules, edge nodes, sensors), what cloud/AI platforms underpin the system, how data governance & security are handled (especially in “sovereign mobility cloud” context).
- For residents & commuters: Over time this means more intelligent, perhaps autonomous, transport options; smoother traffic; possibly new mobility services (robot-shuttles, driverless vans) in the UAE’s smart-city zones.
What to highlight for your audience
- The convergence of technologies: telecom (5.5G/6G), cloud/edge, AI, geospatial mapping, autonomous vehicles, and smart infrastructure.
- The role of national strategy: this partnership aligns with the UAE’s broader ambitions for smart cities, digital economy and mobility innovation.
- The commercial/industrial angle: this is not just R&D. The MoU explicitly covers business models, ecosystem partners, and scaling pilots toward commercial operation.
- The “why now” element: Connectivity and edge computing have matured; AVs and smart infrastructure are moving from lab to city-streets. The UAE sees an opportunity to leap-frog in this domain.
Suggested headline & sub-heading
Headline: Space42 and e& UAE Partner to Deploy Vehicle-to-Everything Tech for Autonomous Mobility
Sub-heading: The UAE firms team up on V2X, edge computing and cloud mobility infrastructure to accelerate smart transport nationwide.
