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Huawei, Qualcomm Sign Multi-Year Patent Deal Covering 5G, AI, Computing and Networking

The agreement includes cross-licensing of the companies' patent portfolios and Qualcomm's planned purchase of certain Huawei-owned US patents, subject to regulatory approvals.
Huawei and Qualcomm announce a multi-year patent licensing agreement covering 5G, AI, computing and networking
October 7, 2026 09:10 AM IST | Written by Neelam Sharma | Edited by Vaibhav Jha

Huawei and Qualcomm have reached a significant multi-year patent licensing agreement covering a broad range of technologies, including 5G, computing, artificial intelligence and networking.

The deal will see the two technology companies cross-license patents from their respective portfolios. The deal also includes Qualcomm’s purchase of some U.S. patents owned by Huawei related to computing, AI, networking and other technology areas. “The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and will close thereafter.”

The significance of the agreement lies in the fact that both companies have large portfolios of intellectual property in the global technology and telecommunications industries. It also indicates the increasing importance of patent licensing in the development of next-generation technologies.

Alan Fan, the Chief IP Officer of Huawei stated that the company has been dedicated to investing in the development of its research and development for several decades. He focused on the fact that Huawei played a very important role in terms of the development of 4G and 5G standards by introducing polar code which is a type of signal coding algorithm.

In fact, the agreement confirms that Huawei played an essential role in the field of technological advancement that contributed to the development of telecommunication technology today.

John Han, the executive vice president and general manager of the company Qualcomm Communications Licensing stated that the company has been financing various broadband technologies for a long time which formed a technical background for the development of new generations of mobile communications.

The executive stated that the agreement signifies the fact that Qualcomm is recognized as a leading organization in the field of 5G technology which has been quite successful in the field of patent licensing.

John Han has acknowledged also the continuous technology innovations and intellectual property purposes made by Huawei.

According to both firms, the agreement reiterates their commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights through the use of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing standards.

This agreement has been signed during the period of the development of 5G, AI, computing and advanced networking technologies when the issue of intellectual property and patent rights is becoming more relevant for technology companies.

Also Read: Huawei says New Chip Design Law Can Ease AI Compute Constraints

Authors

  • Neelam Sharma, reporter at AI FrontPage

    Neelam Sharma is a passionate storyteller, and journalist with over a decade of experience across leading Indian media houses.
    Known for her calm presence on screen and powerful storytelling off it, Neelam brings a rare blend of credibility, creativity, and empathy to journalism. Her strength lies in ground reporting and research-driven narratives that connect with the heart of the audience. Whether covering social issues, human-interest features, or breaking news, she combines factual depth with a human touch—making every story not just informative.

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  • Vaibhav Jha, editor and co-founder at AI FrontPage

    Vaibhav Jha is an Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage. In his decade long career in journalism, Vaibhav has reported for publications including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and The New York Times, covering the intersection of technology, policy, and society. Outside work, he’s usually trying to persuade people to watch Anurag Kashyap films.

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