Advancing Sustainable 6G: Insights from the SUSTAIN-6G External Advisory Group
On 16th Feb the 3rd External Advisory Group (EAG) meeting of the SUSTAIN-6G project took place in hybrdid mode. It brought together experts from industry, academia, and research organisations to learn and exchange perspectives, and provide strategic guidance on advancing sustainability in SUSTAIN-6G. The meeting aimed to gather expert feedback on key project results and strengthen alignment with emerging technological, regulatory, and societal developments shaping the evolution of sustainable digital Technology.
The session opened with a welcome to the EAG members and an overview of the meeting objectives by the project co-ordinator Christoph Schmelz (Nokia) and EAG organizer Pooja Mohnani (Eurescom), who outlined the goals of the discussion and the expected outcomes of the advisory exchange.
The evolution of the project’s terminology and conceptual framework for sustainability in 6G systems was presented by Anastasius Gavras (Eurescom), The presentation sparked an engaging discussion with EAG members on the use and importance of Terminology(a common language) to align diverse stakeholders in the project and how it helps in building the sustainability concepts with consistently aligned approach in research, innovation, and future network design.
The meeting continued with a presentation on the methodology, key value indicators (KVIs), and the identification of needs and requirements developed within the project. Marja Matinmikko‑Blue (University of Oulu) led the discussion, together with contributions from Berna Sayrac (Orange). The overall exchange focused on refining the methodological approach for assessing sustainability impacts and ensuring that the defined indicators capture environmental, societal, and economic dimensions relevant for 6G systems.
Further insights were shared in a session dedicated to technology enhancements presented by Leonardo Lo Schiavo from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Ali bador from Ericsson. The discussion explored potential innovations that could enable sustainable network architectures and operations, with valuable feedback from the advisory group on the technological directions under investigation.
Another key discussion addressed the implications of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive for telecommunications research and innovation. The session, introduced by Marja Matinmikko-Blue, explored how regulatory frameworks and sustainability reporting requirements may influence the development, assessment, and deployment of future 6G technologies.
The agenda also included a presentation on vertical use cases and requirements by Liesbet Van der Perre from KU Leuven, focusing on how emerging applications and industry needs can shape sustainable 6G solutions across sectors.
Additional perspectives were provided by EAG members. Stefan Wunderer (Nokia) introduced the concept of “Chiptainability,” examining the sustainability aspects of semiconductor technologies in future networks. Elke Roth‑Mandutz from Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS shared insights on energy efficiency developments within 3rd Generation Partnership Project Radio Access Network standardisation activities. Finally, Hugues Ferreboeuf presented an analysis of the current and projected environmental footprint of generative artificial intelligence and its implications for digital sustainability.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the next steps for the project and future engagement with the External Advisory Group. The next EAG meeting is planned to take place online in November 2026, continuing the dialogue on advancing sustainable and responsible 6G development.
