Building the Foundations of Ethical Networks: Integrating Key Value Indicators for Social, Economic, and Environmental Impact

The evolution of Next-Generation Networks is driven not only by technological advancements but also by the need to address broader social and environmental concerns. Indeed, in the transition to increasingly interconnected and digitalized societies, it becomes imperative to consider additional key values beyond mere technological performance. Sustainability, encompassing social, economic, and environmental dimensions, emerges as a crucial guiding principle shaping the development and deployment of future networks. This paper explores the evolving landscape of programmable networks, emphasizing the integration of sustainability principles to foster resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious network infrastructures. Sustainability principles are used to define Key Value Indicators (KVIs), which can be embedded into an Intent-Based Network to define the user and/or enterprise sustainable goals expressed in terms of intents. Two examples of KVIs are also discussed to analyze the process of reaching their definition.