Here’s a short update on the progress we are making with wireless technologies patent licensing as we approach the mid-point in the year. 2024 was a productive year for the team with the successful completion of our smartphone renewals and new automotive, consumer electronics, and IoT patent license agreements. We have carried this momentum over into 2025 with several new agreements signed in the first six months of the year.  

Consumer electronics

So far this year we have signed agreements with three consumer electronics companies, plus we announced a patent agreement with Amazon at the end of March covering the use of our video technologies in their streaming services and devices. These are in addition to the consumer electronics agreement with Samsung (covering the use of our video technologies in their TVs) signed towards the end of last year, and our existing agreements with Lenovo and a number of other well-known consumer electronics brands.

Mobile devices

In February last year we announced the successful completion of our smartphone patent licence renewal cycle which began in 2021. We signed seven agreements in thirteen months (including agreements with Apple, Honor, Oppo, Samsung, and Vivo). Since then, we have continued to engage with the remaining addressable smartphone market. In Q4 2024 we signed an agreement with Transsion, the leading smartphone vendor in Africa, and in the first half of this year we signed agreements with some smaller mobile device vendors.

Automotive

As I outlined in a previous blog, cellular networks provide the backbone for many in-car services enabling a safer and more enjoyable driving experience. And on top of this, WLAN enables local connectivity inside the car, allowing passengers to connect their devices and enjoy entertainment or work on the go. So far this year we have signed agreements with two major automotive companies covering the use of our WLAN in their vehicles and in total we now have WLAN licenses in place with five major automakers.

We also believe this year will be a turning point for automotive licensing in China. Either more Chinese automotive companies will sign licences or there will be more litigation by patent holders. I am pleased to say that Chinese automotive companies are increasingly recognising the importance of respecting IPRs, and I would like to thank again our existing licensees for their professionalism in our license discussions.

IoT

So far this year we have signed agreements with two Chinese vendors of point-of-sale payment devices. This means we now have agreements with all major Western point-of-sale payment device vendors, plus three Chinese POS vendors. We hope the remaining Chinese POS vendors will, like their competitors, agree licenses on fair terms. Work also continues to expand our licensing coverage in other IoT device verticals.

Continued innovation in wireless technologies

Nokia also continues to be heavily involved in the development of new wireless technologies. Earlier this year we passed the milestone of 7,000 patent families declared as essential to 5G with more to follow. Nokia’s fundamental inventions in 5G include groundbreaking innovations in 5G radio protocol design, 5G security and interface technologies that define how smartphones, connected cars and other connected devices interact with 5G networks. Our experts are also playing a leading role in the development of the 6G standard. For more on this please see this recent LinkedIn live event where our team explored the value that 6G will bring, the anticipated system architecture of 6G, and the steps to be taken from now until 2030.

Stay tuned for more updates.