It's official: HUAWEI and Qualcomm ink multi‑year patent deal spanning 5G and AI

HUAWEI and Qualcomm sign multi‑year patent licensing deal covering 5G, AI, compute, and networking.

HUAWEI and Qualcomm logos

HUAWEI x Qualcomm

According to a statement, the agreement includes Qualcomm's purchase of certain HUAWEI U.S. patents related to computing, AI, and networking.

The move marks HUAWEI's first patent licensing deal with Qualcomm that covers 5G technologies.

The deal is expected to push the total value of HUAWEI's patent licensing agreements beyond USD 6.9 billion (around PHP 432.78 billion) once completed.

The company noted that its intellectual property licensing business has generated positive revenue since 2021, reflecting years of heavy investment in research and development. HUAWEI has ramped up R&D spending in recent years as U.S. trade restrictions since 2019 have limited its access to advanced chips and crucial software.

The tech giant made its first licensing payment to Qualcomm in 2001 and began earning licensing income in 2011 through Motorola.

This is a significant deal, with Qualcomm standing as one of America's leading multinational technology companies and HUAWEI remaining a major Chinese tech giant operating under U.S. sanctions.

Possible advantages of this partnership

• Reduced disputes - Cross‑licensing minimizes the risk of litigation by giving both companies access to each other’s patents.
• Accelerated innovation - Shared rights in 5G, AI, compute, and networking allow faster product development and broader collaboration.
• Strengthened IP positions - Qualcomm’s purchase of select HUAWEI U.S. patents bolsters its portfolio, while Huawei gains licensing rights to support global competitiveness.

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Source: HUAWEI, Via: Reuters