SUSTAIN-6G publishes its Period 1 Technical Report with its achievements towards integrating sustainability into every stage of future 6G networks

The SUSTAIN-6G consortium has published its first Periodic Technical Report, presenting the project’s achievements during its first reporting period, from January 2025 to March 2026.

As the SNS JU Lighthouse Project dedicated to sustainability, SUSTAIN-6G is developing a holistic end-to-end framework that embeds sustainability into the design, deployment and operation of future 6G networks. The project addresses environmental, social and economic sustainability while considering both sustainable network technologies and the role of 6G in enabling more sustainable digital applications.

During the first reporting period, the consortium established a strong foundation for the project’s technical work. Major achievements include the definition of a comprehensive sustainability framework for 6G, the identification of 16 sustainability-focused technology enablers, the development of 10 use cases across agriculture, smart energy grids and eHealth, and the creation of methodologies to assess sustainability using Key Value Indicators (KVIs) and dedicated sustainability assessment frameworks.

The project has also developed a common sustainability terminology, analysed stakeholder requirements, initiated proof-of-concept validation activities, and strengthened engagement with industry, academia and standardisation bodies to ensure that sustainability principles become an integral part of future 6G development.

Looking ahead, SUSTAIN-6G will continue refining its sustainability assessment methodologies, validate innovative technologies through proof-of-concept implementations, and develop guidelines, best practices and strategic roadmaps to support the adoption of sustainable 6G solutions across Europe and beyond.

The publication of the Period 1 Technical Report represents an important milestone for the project and demonstrates the consortium’s commitment to placing sustainability at the centre of next-generation communication networks.

The full report is available here: https://zenodo.org/records/20810935