2026 Global 5G Patent Ranking

Who is Leadingthe 5G Patent Race? 2025 Report Executivesummary The 5G cellular standard is transforming industries, extending connectivity far beyond smartphones andcomputers into the Internet of Things (IoT). From automotive and logistics to smart manufacturing, smartcities, and even smart healthcare, 5G is driving a revolution that reshapes entire sectors. Unlike any other The race for 5G patents has become more competitive than ever, with significant geopolitical implications asnations vie for leadership in critical technologies. This report analyzes over 85,000 5G patent families(comprising both pending and granted patents) declared to the European Telecommunications StandardsInstitute (ETSI) before October 31, 2024, with patent publication dates also before this date. The data forthis analysis was retrieved on November 21, 2024, allowing for ETSI’s processing timelines, and was derivedfrom the LexisNexis IPlytics database. It includes all declarations submitted to ETSI before October 31, 2024that were publicly available on ETSI’s website by November 21, 2024. The data for this analysis reflectsinformation that was publicly available as of November 21, 2024. Declarations published after that date and This report not only provides unique insights into 5G patent data but also highlights the methodologiesand challenges of creating reliable 5G patent datasets. Ensuring that variations in companies' declarationpractices—such as timing, volume, and accuracy—do not skew rankings was a key focus of this report.Since patent declarations rely on self-reporting, these differences can significantly impact the data. Forthe first time, the report introduces the"Cellular Verified"initiative, a groundbreaking data-cleaning Courts beyond the UK are increasingly involved in setting global fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory(FRAND) rates, with Chinese courts becoming particularly active, and the Unified Patent Court (UPC)recently issuing its first FRAND ruling. The determination of FRAND rates often includes, among otherevidence, a "top-down" approach, where the size of a 5G ultimate owner's portfolio is compared to the This report highlights the dynamic landscape of 5G SEP ownership and licensing, emphasizing theintricate interplay between innovation, litigation, and the evolving maturity of 5G technologies. As the For more details on our data retrieval and processing methodology, please visit our website:lexisnexisip.com/our-methodology-5g-report The LexisNexis Ultimate Owner concept recognizes that parent companies often exert control over patents heldby subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliates. Keyfindings Continued 5G Investment The number of granted 5G patent declarations has more than doubled in the past threeyears, growing from slightly over 25,000 declared 5G granted patent families in 2021 to over57,000 declared 5G granted patent families in 2024. As 5G technology continues to evolve towards 5G Advanced and 6G, investment in cellulartechnology is growing at an exponential rate. Top 5G patent owners Leading innovators:Huawei(China),Qualcomm(U.S.), andEricsson(Sweden) hold the topthree positions in 5G patent ownership. Leading region:Chinese-headquartered companies now account for over 40% of 5G-declaredpatent families, while U.S., Korean, and European-headquartered ultimate owners each holdshares of 15–20%. R&D-drivenorganizations:Institutions likeInterDigital(U.S.),FraunhoferInstitute(Germany),andTNO Netherlandsdemonstrate the impact of research-focused innovation. For example,InterDigitaljumps from 17th to 7th in the 5G patent ranking when rankings consider the Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs):PAEs are rising in rankings when analyzed through the valuemetric Patent Asset Index. Key examples include: Pegasus Wireless, which acquired 5G patents fromKT Corp, moved from 74 to 34.Longhorn IP, which acquired 5G portfolios fromFG InnovationandShanghai Langbo,advanced it’s rank from 83 to 38,Key Patent Innovations, which obtained a 5G portfolio Other Notables:5G IP Holdings,IP Bridge, andNewRadioalso saw significant rankimprovements due to strategic acquisitions. Technical contributions Standard contributing companies:Huawei(China),Ericsson(Sweden), andNokia(Finland)lead in 5G-related technical standard submissions.Standard contribution trend:The number of technical standards contributions related to 5Ghas surpassed 80,000, marking an all-time high as companies continue to heavily invest in5G development. The upcoming release of 5G Advanced next year and the initiation of 6G Rising importance of 5G patent data Growing role in licensing and litigation:5G patent data is critical in determining FRANDrates, assessing portfolio value, and resolving disputes. Data integrity has become a crucialfactor in shaping SEP licensing outcomes. Maturity of patent portfolios:As 5G technology matures, many associated patents arenearing expiration. Historical ownership analysis indicates that a significa