Key Value Indicators for Sustainable AI-Based Communication Networks: Are They Adequate?

As climate and societal challenges intensify, achieving sustainable development requires a holistic approach that balances economic growth with environmental preservation and social equity. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals with corresponding global indicators. However, adapting these high-level goals to the specific context of telecommunications networks, which are more and more governed by AI-based components, presents major challenges. This paper proposes an extensive framework for assessing the adequacy of Key Value Indicators, used to evaluate the Key Values brought by network services and applications. The framework encompasses the phases of indicator elicitation, analysis, technical realization, and assessment. Applying this framework ensures that Key Value Indicators remain relevant, actionable, and pertinent to the objectives throughout the system’s evolution. Case studies from leading projects in the telecommunications sector illustrate how the proposed methodology effectively identifies deficiencies and helps refine the framework.