Towards sustainable and resilient 6G optical networks: Addressing the challenges of a Digital Society

During global crises and geopolitical challenges, Europe is charting its course towards a digital, sustainable future. The transition towards a Digital Society presents unprecedented challenges for 6G packet-optical transport networks, spanning from the edge to the core. Ensuring sustainability and resilience in these networks is critical, particularly for enterprises and critical infrastructures, where reliable connectivity is closely interwoven with energy networks. This invited talk will explore the key sustainability and resilience challenges in 6G optical transport, considering aspects such as energy efficiency, resilience, and the impact of evolving geopolitical dynamics. A central focus will be the CELTIC Flagship project SUSTAINET and its subproject SUSTAINET-Advance, which aims to develop innovative solutions for sustainable and resilient connectivity. The talk will discuss how these projects address the interdependence of communication and energy networks, proposing new architectures, technologies, and operational strategies to enhance network robustness and efficiency. Initial activities and early results from SUSTAINET-Advance will be presented, along with an outlook on future research directions and industry collaboration opportunities.