Huawei and Qualcomm sign multi-year patent licensing deal covering 5G and AI
In short
Huawei and Qualcomm have signed a multi-year patent licensing agreement covering 5G, artificial intelligence, computing and networking technologies, with cross-licensing of their patent portfolios. Qualcomm will additionally buy a number of Huawei patents registered in the United States. Financial terms were not disclosed, and iXBT reported the final agreement still has to pass regulatory procedures.
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Huawei and Qualcomm have signed a multi-year patent licensing agreement covering 5G, artificial intelligence, computing systems and networking, according to tech outlets, TASS and Kommersant. The deal provides for cross-licensing of the two companies' patent portfolios, and Qualcomm will additionally buy a number of Huawei patents registered in the United States, iXBT and Kommersant reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Financial terms were not disclosed. iXBT reported that the companies said the agreement concerns patents only and does not provide for other commercial cooperation, that it follows fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing principles, and that the final agreement still has to pass the necessary regulatory procedures. Huawei said that by the end of 2025 it held more than 165,000 active patents worldwide and had concluded more than 260 licensing and cross-licensing agreements with major IT companies. [ 4 ]
Kommersant, citing Reuters, reported that Huawei said the total value of licensing deals for its patents has now reached $6.9bn; 3DNews put the total at more than $6.9bn. Licensing became profitable for Huawei in 2021, 3DNews said, after years in which research and development spending was not covered by licensing revenue. The outlet added that Huawei's first licensing agreement with Qualcomm was signed in 2001 and that its first licensing income came from Motorola in 2011. [ 1 , 5 ]
The deal comes against existing US restrictions. 3DNews said Huawei has had to invest heavily in development since 2019 because it lost access to a number of important Western technologies under US sanctions. Kommersant noted that in May 2024 the US Commerce Department revoked licences that allowed Intel and Qualcomm to export to Huawei, and that patent licensing does not by itself restore supplies of American technology, since patent licensing and export permits remain different mechanisms. Kommersant cited Huawei's holding of up to 18.3% of 5G essential patents. [ 1 , 5 ]
Kommersant reported that HP also signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Huawei in August, citing Reuters. 3DNews said Huawei's recently presented LogicFolding transistor-density technology is included in the patent package Qualcomm may use, and described a US company buying rights to Chinese-developed technology as a precedent. [ 1 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The agreement links two of the largest holders of 5G and AI-related patents, potentially easing how both companies use each other's technology in standards-based products. It also shows patent licensing continuing between US and Chinese companies even as Washington's export restrictions on Huawei remain in place, though Kommersant notes the deal does not restore supplies of American technology.
Key facts
- Huawei and Qualcomm signed a multi-year patent licensing agreement covering 5G, AI, computing systems and networking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The deal provides for cross-licensing of the two companies' patent portfolios. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Qualcomm will additionally buy a number of Huawei patents registered in the United States. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Financial terms were not disclosed, and iXBT reported the final agreement still has to pass regulatory procedures. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Huawei said the total value of licensing deals for its patents has reached $6.9bn. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Huawei said that by the end of 2025 it held more than 165,000 active patents worldwide and had concluded more than 260 licensing and cross-licensing agreements. [ 4 ]
- The companies said the agreement concerns patents only and provides for no other commercial cooperation. [ 4 ]
- Huawei's recently presented LogicFolding chip transistor-density technology is included in the patent package Qualcomm may use, 3DNews reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Huawei and Qualcomm concluded a multi-year patent licensing agreement covering 5G, AI, computing systems and networking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The agreement provides for cross-licensing of the two companies' patent portfolios. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Qualcomm will additionally buy a number of Huawei patents registered in the United States. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Financial terms and conditions of the deal are not being disclosed. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Huawei said the total value of licensing deals for its patents has reached $6.9bn. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The financial terms and the full conditions of the agreement Kommersant and iXBT say the sum and conditions are not being disclosed; the documents give no figures for the deal itself, and 3DNews says the cumulative licensing total will exceed $6.9bn while Kommersant says it has reached that figure.
- Whether the deal will change US restrictions on supplies to Huawei Kommersant states that patent licensing does not by itself restore supplies of American technology and that patent licensing and export permits remain different mechanisms, but the documents do not say whether export licences will be affected.
- When the agreement was signed and when it takes effect The documents report the signing without giving a date, and iXBT, a single source, says the final agreement still has to pass regulatory procedures.
- The scale of Qualcomm's patent purchase and which patents are involved Only 3DNews names specific Huawei technologies (LogicFolding) as included in the package; no portfolio or financial details of the purchase are given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 3DNews reports that Huawei and Qualcomm concluded a long-term licensing agreement covering 5G and AI, with Qualcomm buying US-registered Huawei patents. [ 1 ]
- Habr News reports the multi-year agreement covering 5G, AI and networking patents, calling it the first time Qualcomm has agreed to pay for licensing and acquisition of Huawei patents. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports the signing, noting cross-licensing of patent portfolios in 5G, computing systems, AI and networks. [ 3 ]
- iXBT reports the deal, adds that terms are undisclosed and that the final agreement must pass regulatory procedures. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant reports the deal, the $6.9bn licensing total cited from Reuters, and the May 2024 US revocation of Intel and Qualcomm export licences for Huawei. [ 5 ]