The Significance of Intellectual Property for 5G: Technology, Standards, and Standard Essential Patents

On September 7, Tencent Technology Open Day – 5G Multimedia Session concluded at Tencent Binhai Building. Experts from Tencent Multimedia Lab presented an overview of 5G technology, standards, and Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), highlighting the role of intellectual property in the 5G ecosystem.

The article, organized by Tencent IP expert Xu Jianbo, introduces the basic concepts of 5G, its standards, and the importance of SEPs.

Introduction

Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) are patents that cover technologies essential to a product or service and must comply with existing industry standards.

5G Technology Development Overview

From 1G to 5G, the evolution includes changes in device form factors, service types, and leading companies. While 1G focused on voice, 2G added SMS, 3G enabled email and web browsing, 4G introduced video and gaming, 5G currently expands bandwidth and latency capabilities without a brand‑new service category.

Key industry players have shifted over generations: Motorola (1G), Nokia (2G), Qualcomm & Apple (3G/4G), and Huawei & Samsung are poised to dominate 5G.

Reasons Behind Mobile Internet Growth

Beyond 4G, growth is driven by advances in fiber optics, modulation and coding, multi‑antenna technologies, audio‑video standards, and semiconductor processes (e.g., 65 nm to 7 nm).

Future Outlook for 5G

5G performance targets include user‑experience rate, connection density, traffic density, end‑to‑end latency, peak rate, and mobility, plus energy, spectrum, and cost efficiency.

Key 5G scenarios span industrial automation, healthcare, autonomous driving, smart cities, smart homes, cloud office, and cloud gaming.

5G Standards and SEPs

The communication industry chain has evolved, with smartphone sales shifting from Nokia (2009) to Samsung, Apple, and Huawei (2018). Infrastructure providers have consolidated, with Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, ZTE, and Samsung leading the market.

Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) Overview

SEPs are patents that must be implemented to comply with a technical standard. Their essential nature stems from the policies of standard‑setting organizations.

Importance of SEPs in the Telecom Value Chain

Ownership of SEPs provides strategic advantages: licensing revenue, market influence, and protection of R&D investments. In 4G, Qualcomm held the largest SEP portfolio, followed by Samsung, Huawei, Nokia, and others. In 5G, the landscape includes Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE.

How to Obtain an SEP

The process involves pre‑research, participation in the standard‑development process, declaration of relevant patents to the standards body, and finally licensing the patented technology once compliant products are released.

Trends in Cellular Patent Licensing

Early generations (2G/3G) featured cross‑licensing among manufacturers. Later (4G) shifted toward licensing from patent owners to device makers like Apple and Samsung. In 5G, licensing focuses on high‑value connections such as smartphones and connected vehicles.

Overall, 5G is expected to accelerate technological development and transform daily life.