NVS1 – 6G Business, Policy, Regulation & Societal Impact
Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 8:30-10:00, room Sala 4 (1st floor)
Session Chair: Lars Christoph Schmelz (Nokia, DE)
Distinguishing Proximal and Distal Key Value Indicators: A Framework for Integrating Technical and Societal Impact in Next-Generation ICT
Claudia Chiavarino (IUSTO – Istituto Universitario Salesiano Torino, Italy); Andrea Basso (Crossmedia Europe, Belgium)
This article introduces a characterization of Key Value Indicators (KVIs), distinguishing them between proximal and distal ones to offer a novel framework for understanding the nuanced impacts of technological innovation. Proximal KVIs, such as availability and acceptance, are directly influenced by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and can often be assessed during the project lifecycle. In contrast, distal KVIs, including inclusion, edutainment, and cultural connection, are shaped by user perceptions and values, which typically require longer time horizons for evaluation. This article introduces this distinction as a new theoretical contribution, examining its implications through historical and contemporary literature on KVI frameworks, and proposing a structured approach to assess their interaction in next-generation ICT solutions. Examples in the context of the evaluation of 5G and B5G technologies will be provided.
Legitimacy in Regulating Mobile Communications Resilience: A European Perspective
Seppo Yrjölä (University of Oulu; Nokia); Oxana Gisca (Pentti Kaiteran Katu 1 & University of Oulu, Finland); Marja Matinmikko-Blue (University of Oulu, Centre for Wireless Communications, Finland); Petri Ahokangas (University of Oulu, Finland)
This paper examines a diverse spectrum of resilience-oriented regulatory and policy initiatives in mobile communications through the lens of legitimation theory. Emerging technologies such as sixth-generation mobile networks (6G) are often characterized by low legitimacy and high uncertainty, which can trigger resistance from some regulators, incumbent firms, developers, and society at large. We argue that resilience in EU digital policy is not merely a technical requirement but is legitimated through a multidimensional interplay of discursive, performative, and material routes. This reflects the Union’s dual ambition to safeguard societal values while preserving technological sovereignty. Our analysis reveals that resilience is framed as a foundational principle of European digital governance rather than a secondary design feature. Furthermore, we highlight the novel challenge for 6G systems of embedding intrinsic resilience while navigating trade-offs among resilience, sustainability, and economic viability. The resulting trade-offs manifest in the complexity-cost relationship, holistic platform governance, and system reconfigurability issues that demand new governance models and design paradigms.
Resilience-Oriented Business Model Designs in 6G
Seppo Yrjölä (University of Oulu; Nokia); Marja Matinmikko-Blue (University of Oulu, Centre for Wireless Communications, Finland); Petri Ahokangas (University of Oulu, Finland)
This paper investigates diverse range of resilient business model designs in 6G. The anticipated general-purpose 6G technology platform holds the potential to innovating new technologies, services, applications, and business models for enhancing network value and benefiting from novel resilience related business opportunities. Through the analysis, 9 distinct resilience-oriented business model pattern groups and 48 patterns were identified and characterized based on their value creation perspectives. Resilience is fostered by these patterns, which operate through the strategic mitigation of critical weaknesses, the comprehensive situational understanding, and the augmentation of adaptive capabilities. The study’s findings underscore the contribution of several factors to resilient 6G system development, specifically: the unified management of physical assets and data, the robust interoperability and high quality of complementor offerings, and the structured governance of business-to-business platforms. Considering that specific resilience implications on demand-side have not been adequately incorporated into existing business models, it is crucial for standardization, policy, and regulatory frameworks to reinforce 6G resilience advancements.
SUSTAIN-6G Sustainability Requirements Definition Methodology and Its Application in Mobile Network Operator Use Case
Arturo Basaure (University of Oulu, Finland); Marja Matinmikko-Blue (University of Oulu, Centre for Wireless Communications, Finland); Petri Ahokangas (University of Oulu, Finland); Berna Sayrac (Orange Labs, France); Margot Bezzi (CyberSocial Lab S.r.l Impresa Sociale, Italy); Laurent Walter Goix (Nokia, France); Bahare Masood Khorsandi (Nokia, Germany); Anastasius Gavras (Eurescom GmbH, Germany); Frank Hieromnimon (Qualtek, Belgium); Dominique Chiaroni (Nokia Bell Labs, France)
This paper presents the sustainability requirements definition methodology and its application developed within the SUSTAIN-6G project. The proposed methodology provides a structured approach to deriving sustainability requirements for 6G use cases considering the resulting ecosystem with different stakeholders. The paper defines the steps to derive sustainability requirements, making use of identified general sustainability themes and then proceeding to use case level analysis, where stakeholders’ sustainability needs, key values and key value indicators (KVIs) are derived. KVIs are then consolidated across stakeholders to form the basis for deriving sustainability requirements. The paper illustrates the methodology by applying it to a 6G Mobile Network Operator´s (MNO) mobile broadband use case. Further work is needed to derive the sustainability requirements with more detail.
Robust Assessment Methodologies for General Purpose AI Systems: Towards Trustworthy Evaluation Under the AI Act
Dhanushka Surendra (Informatics Institute of Technology, Sri Lanka); Pasika Ranaweera (University College Dublin, Ireland); Engin Zeydan (CTTC, Spain); Madhusanka Liyanage (University College Dublin, Ireland)
General Purpose AI (GPAI) systems, including large language models and multimodal architectures, have demonstrated unprecedented versatility across a wide range of tasks. However, current evaluation methodologies do not fully capture these systems’ capabilities, emergent behaviors, or associated risks. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for assessing GPAI models in accordance with the European Union’s AI Act. The proposed approach introduces new benchmarking techniques, capability elicitation methods, and interpretability tools to evaluate both the beneficial and potentially harmful capabilities of GPAI systems. The framework emphasizes regulatory compliance, societal impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly through the integration of social sciences and humanities (SSH). It supports GPAI providers, policymakers, and the AI Office in validating model reliability, fairness, and transparency, and establishes the foundation for harmonized evaluation procedures. Illustrative use cases and example benchmarks demonstrate applicability and promote open, trustworthy AI innovation.
