What if tomorrow’s hyper-connected digital world were built around public values from the outset?
Dr Monique Calisti – an Italian engineer, entrepreneur and researcher – is among the leading advocates ensuring that people remain at the heart of Europe’s digital transformation.
“As a mother of three teenage girls, I feel a huge responsibility to help shape a digital future that is sustainable and socially inclusive,” she said.
Calisti is the founder and CEO of Martel Innovate, a Swiss-based innovation and consulting firm with offices in the Netherlands. She also created Digital for Planet, a non-profit dedicated to promoting ethical, green and inclusive digital technologies.
Preparing for the next generation of connectivity
Calisti currently coordinates 6G4Society, a two-year EU-funded project aiming to make sure that the next leap in mobile technology—6G—delivers not only greater speed and capacity but also fairness, sustainability, ethics and trust.
Although 5G is already transforming communications, 6G, expected around 2030, will go even further. Its ultra-high speeds and minimal latency will enable near-instant response times critical for remote surgery, autonomous transport and advanced environmental sensing.
For everyday users, 6G will mean stable, super-fast coverage that merges physical and digital worlds.
Calisti imagines a future where holographic, 3D conversations feel as if the person is in the same room—an innovation that could help hospitalised children or displaced families stay connected.
Unlocking new opportunities
With 6G, telemedicine, robotic remote surgery and vehicles that communicate directly with their surroundings could become routine. A top heart surgeon in Paris could one day operate on a patient in Romania using 6G-powered robotic tools.
But such advances also raise concerns. The rollout of 5G triggered public debates about health, privacy and environmental impacts—especially in Switzerland, where Calisti saw strong opposition firsthand. This demonstrated that technology cannot assume automatic acceptance.
6G4Society aims to address these concerns early by designing networks that prioritise people and the planet.
A society-first strategy
The project brings together universities, industry, policymakers, NGOs and civil society to promote future networks that are not only technologically advanced but also socially responsible.
“What makes our work unique is that it focuses entirely on the societal, environmental and sustainability aspects of 6G,” Calisti explained.
The effort fits into a broader European strategy supported by the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, a public–private partnership with a budget of €1.8 million for 2021–2027. It supports research on advanced networks, security, cloud systems, sustainability and microelectronics, helping to keep Europe competitive while ensuring technology aligns with real societal needs.
More than engineering
Social scientists play a key role in understanding how people use technology and what values it should serve.
Dr Katrina Petersen of Public Safety Communication Europe, which works with emergency services, notes that including social sciences offers vital insights. For example, firefighters, paramedics and police forces in different regions or countries often still struggle to communicate during crises such as wildfires or floods.
Insights like these help guide developers to anticipate real-world needs and ensure 6G genuinely improves lives.
Listening to Europeans
To understand public expectations, 6G4Society researchers are surveying people across Europe about their experiences with 5G and hopes for 6G.
“Younger respondents tend to focus on environmental issues, while older people prioritise privacy and security,” Calisti said.
When asked about 5G, 23% mentioned speed and connectivity, whereas 16% expressed doubts or criticism. Most expect 6G to deliver faster, more reliable access to information and remain cautiously optimistic.
People also hope 6G will be more energy-efficient—but Calisti stresses that sustainability involves far more: responsible mining, e-waste reduction and overall ecosystem impacts.
Shaping Europe’s digital future
6G4Society will continue engaging the public through interviews, workshops and webinars until the project concludes in December 2025. Its recommendations will help steer EU policies and industry choices for years ahead.
As Europe prepares for the 6G era, the project underscores the importance of technology guided by societal values. By involving citizens, researchers and industry in ongoing dialogue, Europe aims to ensure that the next digital revolution brings not just speed, but a fairer and more inclusive future.
This research was funded by the EU’s Horizon Programme. The views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent those of the European Commission.
