Projects Bridging the urban skies The skies above cities are preparing to be- come a new transport route. Benidorm has been the setting for the first flight of an air taxi in a European urban environ- ment, which flew alongside a fleet of twelve drones, in a demonstration that puts Spain on the map of future mobility. As part of the European U-Elcome project, coordinated by Eurocontrol and involving 51 partners from Spain, Italy and France, with Telefónica a member of the Advisory Board, the air taxi flew over the iconic backdrop ofthe Poientne and Levante beaches and crossed the Benidorm skyline to successfully demonstrate the mobility of the future. The positive outcome of the test, how- ever, can only be understood through the involvement of Telefónica. The Spanish company provided IoT connectivity to the air taxi and advanced network capabilities for the accompanying drones. company has acted as a connectivity pro- The project aims to lay the founda- The operation was a milestone, as never vider and enabler of a new ecosystem. Its tions for a shared airspace where drones before in Europe had a flight of this type beenexperience in secure and reliable networks and air taxis can operate safely together carried out in which unmanned aircraft co- has positioned Telefónicaas a leadingpart- in urban environments. existed with a city operating at full capacity.ner for this type of operation. The initiative ha clear intrntinls eaoa The project demonstrates that urban The flight across Benidorm, in addition implications: with partners spread across mobility is no longer a futuristic idea but to being a technological achievement, is a several European countries and coordina- a tangible option that requires collabora- testament to the Spanish company’s abil- tion by Eurocontrol, the trials in Benidorm tion between institutions, regulators, and ity to lead projects that redefine the way are a model for future implementations in leading companies such as Telefónica. The cities move and interact with people. other European cities. The arrival of air taxis, however, raises questions about urban planning, regula- tion and coexistence with current means of transport, but it also opens up a wide range of opportunities for the future. More connected, less congested and more sus- tainable cities are on the horizon. In this scenario, Telefónica has emerged as a leading player capable of translating its experience in connectivity and digital transformation into solutions that im- prove people’s lives. Far from being the stuff of anecdotes, the first air taxi flight in Europe demon- strates that collaboration between compa- nies and institutions is the best seed for innovation. 100