Huawei Technologies and Qualcomm have reached a multiyear patent licensing agreement covering 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), computing, and networking technologies, marking the first time Qualcomm has entered into such a deal involving Huawei’s 5G intellectual property. The Shenzhen-based company announced the agreement on Monday, highlighting that it includes Qualcomm’s purchase of certain Huawei patents in the United States related to computing, AI, and networking.
The transaction involves cross-licensing between the two companies’ patent portfolios, though Huawei specified that the deal does not entail any other form of business cooperation and remains subject to regulatory approvals. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Huawei indicated that the completion of this deal would push the total value of its patent licensing agreements to more than $6.9 billion since it began monetizing its intellectual property in 2011.
This new arrangement follows a history of legal settlements and licensing deals between the firms. In 2020, Huawei paid Qualcomm $1.8 billion in back licensing fees to resolve previous disputes. Huawei’s broader patent licensing portfolio now includes over 260 contracts with major global technology companies such as Nokia, Samsung Electronics, and Amazon, as well as domestic Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi.
Huawei has emphasized the importance of intellectual property as a source of revenue, particularly after U.S. trade restrictions hampered its ability to acquire advanced chips and software from American suppliers. The company reported that its intellectual property licensing business has generated positive revenues since 2021, reflecting years of substantial investment in research and development. In 2025, Huawei held 165,000 active granted patents worldwide, according to the company.
Alan Han, Huawei’s chief intellectual property officer, highlighted the deal as validation of both Huawei’s innovations and Qualcomm’s foundational role in modern communication technologies. Similarly, John Han, the executive vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing, said the agreement reaffirmed Qualcomm’s leadership in 5G technologies while recognizing Huawei’s ongoing contributions to 5G and other fields.
Beyond this agreement, Huawei has continued to expand its patent monetization efforts. For example, in June, the company announced it would begin charging royalties on its Wi-Fi 7 technology, setting a rate of 50 cents per unit. The firm noted that its licensing agreements covered 1.6 billion devices worldwide as of the end of last year.
Huawei’s investment in research and development remains significant, with the telecom giant spending 192.3 billion yuan (approximately HK$225 billion) in 2025, representing nearly 22 percent of its total revenue. The company’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, has urged the intellectual property team to enhance efforts to generate returns on the extensive patent portfolio through “reasonable pricing” strategies.