As Middle Eastern cities invest heavily in smart mobility, intelligent transport systems, and connected infrastructure, reliable communication networks are becoming the foundation of urban resilience. In this exclusive interview with Technology Integrator, Thibaut Faivre, Head of MEAI Sales & Programme Delivery for Public Safety and Security at Airbus Defence and Space, discusses the technologies enabling real-time situational awareness, inter-agency collaboration, and mission-critical connectivity across the region’s rapidly evolving mobility ecosystem.

As Middle Eastern cities accelerate smart mobility and connected infrastructure projects, how important is real-time communication and situational awareness becoming for modern transportation and emergency response ecosystems?

As Middle Eastern cities accelerate their journey toward becoming global hubs for smart mobility, the role of communication is undergoing a fundamental shift from a supportive function to the very backbone of urban resilience. For modern transportation and emergency response ecosystems, real-time communication is no longer merely about voice connectivity; it is about the seamless flow of high-capacity data. Traditional narrowband systems, while reliable for voice, cannot accommodate the digital evidence, live video feeds, and precise geolocation data that now sit at the heart of frontline decision-making. In a region defined by rapid urban expansion and high-security profiles, situational awareness means having the ability for command centres to see incidents in real time rather than reacting to them after the fact. This “resilient intelligence” ensures that as infrastructure becomes more connected, the agencies protecting it can operate with a level of clarity that matches the complexity of the environment they serve.

How could technologies such as GINA Software’s Tactical AVL and Unified Command Interface reshape the way emergency services respond to large-scale road incidents, traffic disruptions, and mobility-related crises?

The integration of GINA Software’s specialised modules into our Agnet and TETRA ecosystems represents a significant leap in how emergency services manage large-scale mobility crises. By turning complex data into life-saving action, these modules allow first responders to operate within a unified digital interface. The Tactical AVL tool provides dispatchers with granular visibility of assets and personnel, ensuring that units are deployed with maximum efficiency during major road incidents where every second is vital for clearing traffic and saving lives. Simultaneously, the Smart CAD (IMS) module supports high-level decision-making by consolidating mapping, field data, and reporting into a single interface, removing the cognitive load of managing disparate systems. Perhaps most importantly, the Unified Command Interface facilitates coordination between different agencies and networks. This reduces the communication barriers that often plague large-scale operations, ensuring that police, medics, and transport authorities are all working from a single, synchronised and common operational picture.

With connected vehicles and intelligent transport systems continuing to evolve, do you see public safety communication networks eventually becoming deeply integrated into future smart mobility frameworks?

We are seeing a definitive convergence where public safety communication networks are becoming deeply embedded into the wider smart mobility framework. The transition from legacy narrowband to mission-critical broadband (4G/5G) is the catalyst for this integration. As vehicles and infrastructure become more intelligent, the communication architecture must scale accordingly to support AI-enabled intelligence and automated workflows. For instance, AI can now be used to detect anomalies in real-time video feeds or automate resource allocation, allowing first responders and control centres to act proactively rather than reactively. This digital transformation ensures that public safety tools are not isolated silos but are instead natively integrated into the data-driven workflows of the cities they protect. By leveraging shared data rather than isolated radio channels, future smart mobility frameworks will benefit from a level of inter-agency coordination that was previously impossible.

In high-density urban environments, where every second matters during emergencies, how critical is interoperability between agencies, fleets, transport authorities, and first responders?

In dense urban environments, the speed of response is often dictated by the fluidity of information across different organisations. Interoperability between agencies, transport authorities, and first responders is a strategic priority, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Airbus is actively supporting this by creating gateways between respective communication systems to facilitate interstate and inter-agency collaboration. Public safety professionals operating in high-stakes environments rely on their tools to work across boundaries without friction. A smooth transition to broadband must ensure that interoperability, tactical management, and scalability are designed into the system from the outset. This allows agencies to communicate across organisations seamlessly and adjust operational priorities in real time as missions evolve. Without this level of technical and operational certainty, the benefits of high-speed data cannot be fully realised in a crisis.

As the automotive and mobility sectors become increasingly software-defined and data-driven, what role will secure communication architectures play in ensuring safer and more resilient transportation networks across the region?

As the automotive and mobility sectors become increasingly software-defined, the role of secure communication architectures is to ensure that the “intelligence” of the network never fails. Resilience in the Middle East is a unique challenge due to vast geography, the regional security threats and the exposure to climate-driven incidents, which means terrestrial networks alone are sometimes insufficient. Airbus addresses this through a layered approach that integrates satellite connectivity with terrestrial broadband. Solutions such as Agnet over Satcom ensure that mission-critical communications remain operational even in remote areas or during major disasters that disable standard infrastructure. Furthermore, for local incident scenes where network coverage might be overloaded or temporarily unavailable, tools like Agnet Direct allow teams to stay connected via off-network direct mode. This hybrid architecture, which combines the mission-critical reliability of TETRA with the high-speed data capabilities of 4G and 5G, creates a robust foundation for the next generation of secure, data-driven transportation networks across the region.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the event recognised organisations and individuals for setting new standards in operational excellence and leadership in the sector amid significant shifts in the industry, including decarbonisation, digitalization, and a renewed emphasis on supply chain resilience. From clean-fuel projects and AI-powered port operations to international collaborations that boost trade efficiency, the 2025 Awards showcased the industry’s progress in turning goals into tangible outcomes.

The evening was hosted by Yalda Hakim, a renowned international correspondent and documentary filmmaker, whose engaging presence added distinction to the occasion. The keynote address was delivered by Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC Logistics and Services, who shared valuable insights on the evolving maritime landscape and the UAE’s leadership in advancing sustainable and innovative practices across the sector.

Clive Woodbridge, Editor of The Maritime Standard and Chairman of the Judging Panel, stated, “This year’s competition was exceptionally tough, and we received an unprecedented number of entries across all categories. Each finalist demonstrated remarkable achievements and operational standards over the past year, which underlines the significant advances that continue to be made in the regional maritime sector.”

A rigorous assessment process was conducted as part of the award selections, and this was supervised by an independent panel of distinguished judges that included some of the most prominent names in the maritime industry.

Trevor Pereira, Managing Director of The Maritime Standard, commented, “These Awards are not just about celebrating success, but also about encouraging excellence. This year’s event recognised innovative concepts, exciting new initiatives, and outstanding performance standards. As the region continues to expand its maritime infrastructure and digital port systems, with significant developments across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, events like The Maritime Standard Awards play a key role in reinforcing its position as a global leader in shipping and maritime.”

 Reaction from the individual winners on the night of October 29th was highly appreciative. Captain Mohamed Al Ali, Senior Vice President, Operations (Offshore Logistics), at ADNOC L&S, who received the Outstanding Achievement Award, added: “It was one of the greatest honours of my professional career to receive this Award. It really means a lot to me to have TMS recognise the years of dedication and hard work.”

Tony Dagher, the Founder and Managing Director of TMC Shipping Group was the recipient of the Young Person in Shipping and was similarly honoured. He said: “I have been fortunate to have had great support from many people during my journey in shipping, and to have a fantastic team around me now. This Award is as much for them as it is for me.

Over the past 12 years The Maritime Standard Awards has consolidated its standing as one of the most prominent annual gatherings within the global maritime calendar, gaining worldwide recognition for recognising excellence and promoting a more resilient and sustainable maritime future.