Abstract
The sixth generation of wireless networks (6G) promises transformative capabilities that may reshape industries and accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Yet evaluation of 6G vertical trials remains anchored to technical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), namely latency, throughput, and energy consumption, which confirm engineering performance but cannot establish whether the technology creates durable value for society or the environment. This developmental paper presents the Key Value Indicator (KVI) assessment framework developed within the 6G-VERSUS Horizon Europe project. Grounded in Triple Bottom Line (TBL) theory and public value perspectives, the framework operationalises stakeholder-perceived economic, social, and environmental outcomes in live trial settings. An early implementation at a maritime port environmental monitoring trial in Portugal demonstrates practical feasibility and surfaces important methodological insights for sustainability-oriented evaluation of digital infrastructure.