Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Sixth-generation (6G) networks promise AI-native architectures, ultra-low latency, and integrated sensing that redefine the potential of civic digital infrastructure. Yet evaluation frameworks remain anchored to technical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), systematically excluding the social, environmental, and economic value outcomes central to publicly funded investments. Drawing on Public Value Theory and Stakeholder Theory, this study develops and empirically validates a Key Value Indicator (KVI) framework linking technical performance to civic impact through key value enablers (KVEs). Using mixed-method evidence collected from 400+ stakeholder engagements of the Horizon Europe 6G-PATH project covering 10 use cases across four verticals: Smart Cities, Farming, Education, and Healthcare reveal that Social Value is consistently prioritised yet highly context-dependent, revealing structural disconnections between what technology measures and what stakeholders value. It is termed the Social Value Paradox. The study advances formal propositions modelling these relationships and argues that civic impact evaluation cannot rely solely on technical KPIs.
Paper Number
1925
Recommended Citation
Wedikkara Gedara, Imesha Devindi Premarathne; Sivarajah, Uthayasankar; and Li, Jing, "Beyond Technical Performance: Evaluating the Civic Impact of 6G Digital Infrastructure" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 33.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/conftheme/conftheme/33
Beyond Technical Performance: Evaluating the Civic Impact of 6G Digital Infrastructure
Sixth-generation (6G) networks promise AI-native architectures, ultra-low latency, and integrated sensing that redefine the potential of civic digital infrastructure. Yet evaluation frameworks remain anchored to technical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), systematically excluding the social, environmental, and economic value outcomes central to publicly funded investments. Drawing on Public Value Theory and Stakeholder Theory, this study develops and empirically validates a Key Value Indicator (KVI) framework linking technical performance to civic impact through key value enablers (KVEs). Using mixed-method evidence collected from 400+ stakeholder engagements of the Horizon Europe 6G-PATH project covering 10 use cases across four verticals: Smart Cities, Farming, Education, and Healthcare reveal that Social Value is consistently prioritised yet highly context-dependent, revealing structural disconnections between what technology measures and what stakeholders value. It is termed the Social Value Paradox. The study advances formal propositions modelling these relationships and argues that civic impact evaluation cannot rely solely on technical KPIs.
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