Nokia, Samsung sign 5G patent agreement

Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia on Monday said it has signed a multi-year 5G patent licensing agreement with Samsung following the expiry of the previous pact in December.

Under the agreement, Samsung will make payments to Nokia from January 1. The companies, however, did not reveal financial details citing confidentiality.

“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,” said Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies.

Nokia’s patent portfolio comprises around 20,000 patent families, including over 4,500 patent families declared essential to 5G.

Nokia’s Swedish rival, Ericsson, also has an agreement on 5G patents with Samsung which was signed last year.