Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 6G4Society (Towards a sustainable and accepted 6G for Society)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31
The 6G4Society project aims to address the tension between two parallel needs in terms of technological development of 6G: securing technology performance objectives, and ensuring that societal and sustainable values are properly embedded into technology. This is done by engaging the key stakeholders within the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) ecosystem, as well as external players, including regulators, policy makers, media, and the public at large. Only a multi-actor and multi-disciplinary approach can indeed allow capturing all aspects that are key to develop a 6G technology acceptance model and that is sustainable by design.
Extensive research was conducted to analyse how 6G will reshape society, focusing on digital inclusion, privacy, and environmental sustainability. A key milestone was Deliverable D1.1 consolidates research on social acceptance, sustainability, and ethical considerations, creating a foundation to integrate these dimensions into 6G design and development. The consortium also put forward the necessity to approach the analysis of expected impact of 6G going beyond the most immediate sphere of direct and expected benefits. The project developed a Social Acceptance of Technology framework, to assess public attitudes toward 6G based on four dimensions: Social Disruptiveness, Value Impact, User Experience, and Trust. Acceptance is addressed as a complex social phenomenon which, besides exploring the interaction between user and technology, understands technology for its social disruptiveness power and as an agent of social change. The project has made substantial progress in gathering and structuring KVIs to serve as essential tools for assessing societal impact of 6G. Through D1.1 and WP4’s KVI/KSI ontology, we defined key features that KVIs must consider. The Key Sustainability Indicators framework was introduced to offer a pathway for harmonising and prioritising values, objectives, and intervention points to assess sustainability. Harmonised indicators will guide future technological innovations and policy decisions, ensuring 6G upholds social values. A multilingual Citizen Survey was launched in nine languages, receiving over 500 responses. This survey collected public opinions on perceived benefits, concerns, and misconceptions surrounding 6G, covering topics such as electromagnetic radiation fears, digital inclusion, and privacy. The results were used to refine communication strategies and create educational materials, including easy-to-understand fact sheets, interactive infographics, and explainer videos. Participatory workshops and community events were organised, targeting diverse audiences. The project has established liaisons with several stakeholders. Engagement with key standardisation groups has fostered the integration of ethical and sustainability considerations into standards from an early stage. The project actively collaborated with SNS JU and 6G-AI working groups and task forces to contribute insights on the social and environmental dimensions of 6G.
The 6G4Society project has set the foundation to create a comprehensive approach to integrate ethical, sustainability, and societal considerations into 6G policy and technology design. The elaboration of harmonised Key Value Indicators, with a subset of sustainability focused ones, i.e. Key Sustainability Indicators, offers a structured approach to evaluating the societal and environmental impact of 6G. Elaborating a wider comprehension of the dynamics influencing social acceptance of technology. Starting from existing technology assessment models the project puts forward the importance of understanding acceptance beyond the more traditional dimension of user experience, as well as going beyond the sole objective of promoting adoption. The concept of social values, social disruptiveness and trust are considered. Introducing the project’s business model (reported in D4.3) policy recommendations, methodologies, services, and open-access knowledge to support a sustainable and inclusive 6G ecosystem. The project developed a structured business model integrating sustainability principles, while policy insights from a gap analysis address regulatory challenges in transitioning from 5G to 6G. Methodological advancements, including the Ontology Requirements Specification Document, the KVI-KSI Ontology, and the KSI Framework, provide structured approaches for assessing societal impact. Additionally, consultancy services on sustainability and participatory design enhance stakeholder engagement, ensuring 6G technologies align with real-world needs. Knowledge transfer, learning materials and multimedia content, fostering capacity building among stakeholders. Public deliverables and promotional resources ensure broad dissemination of findings, reinforcing collaboration and industry adoption. 6G4Society has pioneered structured citizen dialogues, ensuring that public concerns and expectations shape 6G development from the outset. 6G4Society has embraced open-access research dissemination, ensuring its findings contribute to a wider knowledge ecosystem. The project’s publicly available reports, toolkits, and educational resources provide a valuable reference for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders, promoting collaboration and innovation across multiple sectors.