The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU), a European Commission-funded initiative, has selected Nokia to coordinate the SUSTAIN-6G project, a major 6G research effort focused on sustainability. As a leading project in the European 6G landscape, SUSTAIN-6G will explore how 6G technology can support sustainable development across environmental, economic, and societal dimensions. Nokia will lead a consortium of industry and academic partners to investigate practical applications of 6G in three main areas: energy smart grids, e-health and telemedicine, and agriculture. This project, scheduled to run from 2025 to 2027, follows Nokia’s previous leadership roles in the Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II initiatives, which laid the foundation for 6G pre-standardization and use case development.
SUSTAIN-6G aims to leverage 6G capabilities, such as edge computing and AI, to address specific sustainability challenges. The project will focus on energy-efficient microgrids, enhanced digital health infrastructure, and connectivity solutions for smart agriculture. Nokia’s leadership in this initiative will help shape Europe’s 6G vision, contributing valuable insights into how next-generation networking can promote sustainable development across diverse sectors.
• Nokia leads the SUSTAIN-6G project, supported by the European Commission’s SNS JU.
• The project will investigate sustainable 6G use cases in energy, e-health, and agriculture.
• Focus areas include energy-efficient smart grids, digital health for underserved communities, and smart agriculture with edge computing.
• SUSTAIN-6G is set to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2027.
• Nokia previously led Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II, advancing 6G standards and applications.
Peter Merz, Vice President of Nokia Standards, said, “The UN Paris Agreement committed the world to combatting climate change. Every industry must do its part. SUSTAIN-6G will show how the communications industry will apply the next generation of networking to creating that sustainable future, overcoming not just environmental challenges but societal and economic challenges as well.”
