Huawei and Qualcomm Sign Broad Multi-Year Patent Agreement
Huawei and Qualcomm have announced a broad, multi-year patent licensing agreement covering several of the technology industry’s most important fields.
The agreement includes cross-licensing between the two companies and Qualcomm’s purchase of selected Huawei patents registered in the United States.
According to Huawei’s announcement, the agreement covers technologies related to 5G, computing, artificial intelligence and networking. The transaction will be completed after the companies receive the necessary regulatory approvals.
The financial terms of the specific Qualcomm agreement were not disclosed.
What is a patent licence agreement?
A patent gives its owner legal rights over an invention or technical method. Other companies may need permission to use that invention in their products.
Under a patent licence agreement, one company allows another to use certain patented technology in exchange for royalties, payments or access to the other company’s patents.
A cross-licensing agreement allows both sides to use parts of each other’s patent portfolios. This can help companies avoid lengthy court battles and make it easier for them to develop and sell products that rely on industry standards.
In the Huawei-Qualcomm agreement, the two companies will receive rights to use technologies covered by each other’s patents. Qualcomm will also purchase certain Huawei patents in areas including computing, artificial intelligence and networking.
Why 5G is important
The agreement is significant because it includes 5G technologies.
5G networks rely on thousands of patented inventions contributed by companies around the world. These inventions cover areas such as signal transmission, wireless communication, network efficiency, device connectivity and data processing.
Huawei and Qualcomm are both major contributors to mobile communications technology. Qualcomm is widely known for its modem and chip technologies, while Huawei has invested heavily in telecommunications infrastructure, smartphones, wireless standards and research.
Huawei said its 4G and 5G research has contributed to technologies used in modern communication networks. Qualcomm said the agreement recognises its long-standing investment in foundational wireless technologies.
A wider agreement covering AI and computing
The deal extends beyond mobile phones.
Artificial intelligence and computing systems depend on innovations in processors, data movement, computer architecture, software systems and network connections. The agreement gives both companies broader access to intellectual property that may support future products and services.
Networking is also an important part of the agreement. As businesses, vehicles, homes and industrial systems become more connected, companies are competing to develop faster and more efficient ways for devices to exchange information.
Access to patented technologies can reduce the risk of companies being blocked from using important technical methods. It can also help manufacturers bring new products to market more quickly.
Qualcomm’s purchase of Huawei patents
One of the notable parts of the agreement is Qualcomm’s purchase of certain Huawei patents in the United States.
The companies have not publicly disclosed the individual patents or the price Qualcomm will pay. The patents are related to computing, artificial intelligence, networking and other technologies.
The sale shows that Huawei’s intellectual property has commercial value even as the company continues to face restrictions on access to some US technologies and advanced semiconductors.
Reuters reported that Huawei expects the total value of its patent licensing agreements to exceed US$6.9 billion once the latest agreements are completed. At an approximate exchange rate of US$1 to GH₵11.72, that is equivalent to about GH₵80.8 billion.
Huawei’s growing licensing business
Huawei has increasingly used patent licensing to generate value from decades of research and development.
The company says its intellectual-property licensing business has generated positive revenue since 2021. Huawei has also signed licensing or cross-licensing agreements with other major technology companies.
In August 2026, Huawei announced a separate global patent agreement with HP involving certain Wi-Fi patents. The company has also disclosed licensing relationships with firms in the mobile-phone, networking and consumer-electronics industries.
These agreements allow Huawei to earn income from innovations that other companies use, while giving Huawei access to selected technologies owned by its partners.
