Huawei and Qualcomm Sign Broad Patent Cross-License Agreement

Huawei and Qualcomm announced on October 5, 2026, a multi-year, broad patent license agreement that grants each company cross licenses to the other's patent portfolios across several technology fields, including 5G, compute, AI and networking.

As part of the deal, Qualcomm will also acquire certain Huawei U.S. patents covering compute, AI, networking and other technologies. The companies said the transaction will close once it receives the necessary regulatory approvals.

In a joint statement, the two firms framed the agreement as an affirmation of their respective intellectual property portfolios and their shared commitment to licensing practices consistent with fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory, or FRAND, principles.

Alan Fan, Huawei's Chief Intellectual Property Officer, said the agreement reflects decades of investment in research and development that have shaped mobile communications standards. He pointed to Huawei's contributions to 4G and 5G standards, including polar code technology used for signal transmission near the physical limit, as evidence of the company's standing in the industry. "This agreement not only demonstrates the value of Huawei's innovations, but also recognizes Qualcomm's foundational contributions to modern communication technologies," Fan said.

John Han, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing, said the agreement reaffirms recognition of Qualcomm's leadership in 5G technology and the strength of its 5G standard-essential patent licensing program. "This agreement likewise reflects Qualcomm's recognition of Huawei's continued innovation and intellectual property in 5G and other technology fields," Han said.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal brings together two of the wireless industry's largest patent holders and resolves cross-licensing questions across a broad set of technology areas, though its full competitive and industry implications will depend on the terms of the eventual closing and the scope of patents involved.