Sustainable 6G Architecture: A Hexa-X-II Perspective

The transition to 6G necessitates a paradigm shift towards sustainable network design. This paper proposes a modular 6G architecture that addresses economic, environmental, and social sustainability concerns through flexibility, scalability, and energy efficiency. By consolidating network functions into self-contained modules, this architecture promotes scalability, resilience, and resource optimization. Modularization reduces signaling overhead, simplifies network evolution, and enables interoperability with legacy systems—key to minimizing deployment costs and complexity. The paper examines critical enablers of this vision, including RAN-Core Network interactions, flexible access mechanisms, and intent-based management. By adopting a modular approach, 6G can achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and adaptability, ultimately delivering a more sustainable and future-proof communication ecosystem.