A deep dive into the birth process of linking 6G and the UN SDGs

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are becoming an increasingly important theme for researchers in multiple fields to investigate. In this paper, we look at how a group of 40 experts from academia and the mobile communications industry identified ways in which future 6th generation (6G) mobile communications is linked with the UN SDGs while writing a white paper on the topic. In this paper, building on the methodology of critical participatory action research, we look into the detailed operations of the expert group, offer a new way to look at the 6G development process guided by the UN SDGs and describe the linking process for the UN SDGs and 6G in a way that may guide other researchers in similar endeavors. We also present initial outcomes of the linking process that led to the white paper published in 2020 (Matinmikko-Blue et al., 2020). The aim of this research is to identify and formulate a process to recognise the connection between UN SDGs and 6G. •When developing future telecommunication technologies, policies and business models, UN SDGs should be considered.•Research on 6G has started, targeting deployment in 2030. The first visions for 6G have taken the UN SDGs as the baseline.•Building on critical participatory action research theory, this paper develops a process for linking 6G with the UN SDGs.•Development of 6G needs a more human-centered perspective without disciplinary and institutional boundaries.