Nokia, Samsung agree fresh 5G patent licence

Samsung has agreed to pay Nokia for access to 5G patents as part of a cross-licensing deal announced today, January 23.

The new agreement covers the period from January 1 and replaces a deal that expired at the end of 2022.

Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies, said: “Samsung is a leader in the smartphone industry, and we are delighted to have reached an amicable agreement with them.

“The agreement gives both companies the freedom to innovate, and reflects the strength of Nokia’s patent portfolio, decades-long investments in R&D, and contributions to cellular standards and other technologies,” Lukander added.

The deal comes as Nokia Technologies, the Finnish company’s intellectual property licensing division, looks to bounce back from a fall in revenues in Q3 last year.

Financial results published last October showed a 19% dip in net sales for the unit.

The results were mainly down to the end of licensing deals that were either pending renewal or tied up in litigation, the company said at the time.

Meanwhile, Nokia is involved in a multi-continental patent dispute with Chinese smartphone maker Oppo.

The row is over how much Oppo should pay for a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory licence for Nokia patents covering 3G, 4G, and 5G.