Models & LabsAsia-Pacific
Qualcomm said Oct. 5 that it had signed a patent licensing agreement with Huawei.The companies entered into a cross-licensing agreement covering multiple technology areas, including fifth-generation mobile communications (5G), networking, computing, and artificial intelligence…
Qualcomm said Oct. 5 that it had signed a patent licensing agreement with Huawei.
The companies entered into a cross-licensing agreement covering multiple technology areas, including fifth-generation mobile communications (5G), networking, computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Under a cross-licensing agreement, each company allows the other to use its patents. Such arrangements can help the companies avoid technology-infringement lawsuits and focus on research and development (R&D).
The agreement was reached in line with fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) principles for standard-essential patents. Standard-essential patents are patents covering technologies that are essential to implementing a technical standard.
Qualcomm will also purchase some of Huawei’s U.S. patents in computing, AI, and networking. The patent transfer will be completed after receiving regulatory approval.
“This agreement reaffirms industry recognition of Qualcomm’s 5G technology leadership and the success of Qualcomm’s 5G standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing program,” said John Han, executive vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing. “This agreement likewise reflects Qualcomm’s recognition of Huawei’s continued innovation and intellectual property in 5G and other technology fields.”
Qualcomm has recently been shifting its focus beyond 5G toward the commercialization of 6G. Qualcomm expects 6G to officially enter commercial service in 2029. The company expects demonstrations of 6G-based technologies using pre-commercial devices and trials of new agentic AI services to take place around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.